MANILA – Some P892 million worth of “floating cocaine” bricks have been seized off Philippine waters and shorelines since February, the Philippine National Police reported.
The 168.7-kilogram drug haul may have come from Colombia, PNP spokesman Colonel Bernard Banac told reporters at Camp Crame on Wednesday. \
The narcotics may have been bound for Australia, the world’s sixth biggest cocaine market, which lies south of the Philippines, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde earlier said.
The drug hauls, he added, may have come from a capsized ship or were intentionally dumped into the sea for eventual pickup.
The biggest cocaine seizure so far were 48.8 kilos of drugs worth P258.8 million found in Dinagat Island, followed by the 40-kilo batch worth P212 million in San Isidro, Surigao Del Norte.
Authorities also seized some 36 kilos of cocaine worth P190 million in Caraga, Davao Oriental while 34 kilos worth P180 million was netted in Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur.
Another P15.9-million cocaine haul came from Barangay Santiago in Caraga town.
Drug packages worth some P5 million each were seized in Baler and Dingalan towns in Aurora; Perez and Mauban in Quezon; Paracle, Camarines Sur; and 2 barangays in Vinzons, Camarines Norte.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is coordinating with its international counterparts to check if the seized cocaine packages will match specimens in their database, said Banac. (With ABS-CBN News/PN)
