(MindaNews / 16 Feb) – At least 77 bricks of suspected cocaine worth nearly half a billion pesos were recovered on the shorelines of Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands and San Isidro, Surigao del Norte between February 12 and 15.
The Caraga police estimated the worth of the recovered cocaine at “almost 500 million” pesos.
PNP Caraga spokesperson Christian Rafols II said police officers from Cagdianao town found 37 bricks of suspected cocaine in Sitio Habongan, Barangay Poblacion, Cagdianao town in Dinagat Islands on Feb. 12.
“A fisherman brought a brick of the suspicious white substance to the police and guided them to the rest of shipment,” Rafols said.
He said the bricks were packed in waterproof material.
Rafols said police found another shipment of 27 bricks in San Isidro, Siargao, Surigao del Norte on February 14.
Caraga Police Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz went to San Isidro town on February 15 and according to the Facebook post of Rafol’s office, “during the seaborne patrol in the shoreline of San Isidro, RD Cruz and the troops recovered 13 more bricks of cocaine with estimated weight of at least 15 kilograms.”
Rafols said the bricks — also in waterproof package — were tied to a mini GPS tracker.
“We suspect that the smugglers will track the bricks through these GPS trackers,” he said.
Rafols said they have sent samples of the suspected cocaine for forensic analysis to determine the owner of the shipment.
He said the PNP Crime Laboratory does not have the capability to do a forensics analysis.
“The owner of the cocaine can be traced by forensic analysis,” Rafols said.
He said the shipment was off-loaded by a boat to prevent detection.
A sack of rice for a brick of cocaine
On its Facebook page and on tarpaulins posted in strategic places, the Caraga police called on the public to “support the PNP (Philippine National Police) in monitoring our coastlines and seas to prevent the entry of any form of illegal drugs in our community.”
The tarpaulins bore photographs of the bricks of suspected cocaine. “Any presence or sightings of suspicious items shown in the pictures, please immediately contact your local PNP units for proper disposition,” it said.
It also announced offer of reward. “We will give reward of one sack of rice for every block of items to anyone who can give information about the presence and whereabouts of those items show in the pictures,” it said. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)