THE P10-b drugs seized by the authorities off the coast of Zambales had Chinese characters, the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday.
“The shipment amounting to 1.5 tons with a market value of roughly P10 billion had markings that appeared to be Chinese in character.” Philippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The prohibited substance, found on Friday aboard a fishing boat off the off Zambales, was considered the biggest illegal drug apprehension in the history of the Philippine Navy in support of the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Trinidad said a Chinese Malaysian national manning the boat with the drugs was arrested.
“Historically, there have been instances of large hauls of illicit drugs apprehended in the maritime domain, confiscated in our seas that had markings that appear to be Chinese characters.” Trinidad noted.
He also said this indicates the possibility of “another effort of the Chinese Communist Party to destroy the future generation of Filipinos by flooding our country with illicit drugs.”
“Hence, the Philippine Navy and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) had to extend (assistance to the anti-drugs campaign) based on the guidance of our good Secretary of National Defense in the conduct of comprehensive archipelagic defense operations.
“We now extend our coverage all the way up to our EEZ and this particular operation is a result of your AFP conducting comprehensive archipelagic defense operations. It’s not far-fetched (this is an attempt of the Chinese Communist Party,” he added.
