Despite the government’s intensified campaign against narcotics, it appears that prohibited drugs continue to flood not only the country’s streets but also the seas.
At least 37 blocks of suspected cocaine were found floating by a fisherman off the waters of Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands – the second time this week that locals have made such discoveries, the Philippine National Police revealed yesterday.
Gonie Curada, of Purok 2, Barangay Poblacion, Cagdianao, found the cocaine blocks while fishing in Sitio Habongan last Tuesday, a report reaching the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City said.
Two days before on Sunday, two fishermen discovered over 1,000 kilos of cocaine worth P5.44 million in the waters off Camarines Norte.
According to the PNP Regional Office 13 (Caraga), Curada immediately reported his discovery to personnel of the Cagdianao Municipal Police Station.
The recovered items were brought to the PNP Caraga Crime Laboratory Office in Butuan City for initial laboratory test.
Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, hailed Curada for reporting the discovery of the suspected drugs to the police. “The PNP commends the good deed of the fisherman for his active participation and vigilance in making his community safe,” Banac said.
He added that police have conducted a follow-up operation to determine the estimated amount of the haul and, possibly, find more drugs that may have been drifting ashore off Dinagat Islands’ waters.
“Wala pang total weight at total estimated amount kasi meron pa silang ire-recover sa site, and other parts of shoreline, possibly more blocks of cocaine pa,” Banac said.
The recovery of drugs in Philippine waters has long been a problem by the government. The most recent discoveries include the 28 sealed packs of high-grade cocaine worth P162 million by two fishermen in Lucena City, Quezon in April 2017; 24 kilos of cocaine bricks worth P125 million by a fisherman in Matnog, Sorsogon in January 2018; and 18.8 kilos of cocaine worth P79 million in Divilacan, Isabela in February 2018. (Martin Sadongdong)