Home / Series / VICE News / Aired Order / Season 2015 / Episode 212

Crystal Meth and Cartels in the Philippines: The Shabu Trap

At the start of 2015, Mexican national Horacio Hernandez Herrera, allegedly third in command of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, at the center of a 12 million peso ($255,000) drug bust. So, as Herrera awaits trial in the capital, VICE News takes a look at the Philippines drug trade. We visit the Tondo district of Manila, a port area overwhelmed by shabu, to speak to dealers defending their turf and police officers trying to contend with porous borders, stunted judiciary power, and – their most challenging enemy – corruption within their own forces.

English
  • Originally Aired December 23, 2015
  • Runtime 18 minutes
  • Network YouTube
  • Production Company VICE Media
  • Created January 31, 2026 by
    AddingStuffIsFun
  • Modified January 31, 2026 by
    AddingStuffIsFun