CAMP GENERAL SIMEON OLA, Legazpi City – Two fishermen were able to trawl 18 bricks of suspected cocaine along the coastal town of Tiwi, Albay.
According to Bicol Police director Chief Superintendent Ramon Melvin Buenafe, the fishermen identified as Manuel Comota and Razel Bragais were fishing near Brgy. Sugod when they saw several brick-like objects, each wrapped in brown packaging tape.
The duo, sensing that their catch might be illegal items, immediately reported their find to Tiwi Municipal Police chief Senior Inspector Jan King Calipay.
The bricks where turned over to the Albay Police Provincial office before it reached the Bicol PNP.
During Sunday’s press conference, the PNP together with Bicol representatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed that the discovered items where cocaine.
“Sinabi po ng PDEA na talagang cocaine po siya at hindi lang basta cocaine kundi hybrid o first class. Ini-imbestigahan pa po ng pulisya kung saan talaga ito galing pero ayon sa inisyal na pagsisiyasat ay galing ito sa ibang bansa at nagiging drop-point lang ang Pilipinas, said Chief Inspector Arthur Gomez, spokesperson of the Albay PPO.
Gomez said the Philippines has no capability to manufacture such quality since it is considered high grade which may cost around $3.4 million per brick in the United States.
The confiscated 18 bricks of cocaine are estimated to have a street value of five million per brick or around P90 million. (NIÑO LUCES)