Caraga police recover a total of P946.4 million in suspected cocaine

April 26, 2019

The Caraga Region Police on Thursday said they have recovered a total of P946.4 million worth of suspected cocaine since February following their latest recovery this month.

A report from Caraga police said another nine bricks of cocaine were found by fishermen in the waters of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte.

Police Brigadier General Gilberto Cruz, Caraga regional director, said a total of eight bricks of cocaine were recovered last April 24 in Sitio Dahican, Brgy. Helen, Gibosong Islands located at the municipality of Loreto, Dinagat Islands.

A police report said around 5pm, a fisherman found an odd brown brick wrapped in transparent cellophane floating near the light house which he turned over to the barangay captain who notified the personnel of Dinagat Islands Provincial Mobile Force.

Meanwhile, around 5:40 pm, fishermen reported tothe Loreto Municipal Police Station suspicious items they found floating at the shoreline.

Authorities responded and recovered seven sealed bricks of cocaine.

Last April 17, around 2:30 pm, a fisherman from Purok 1, Barangay Abad Santos, Sta. Monica in Surigao del Norte turned over a brick of cocaine to Sta. Monica Police.

The fisherman told authorities while he was fishing, a rectangular object wrapped in black cellophane was floating towards his direction.

According to him, out of curiosity he unpacked the item and noticed the white substance similar to news items reported as cocaine.

Recovered items were turned over to regional crime laboratory office which tested positive on presence of cocaine weighing 9,805 grams with estimated market value of P51, 966, 500.

Cruz, in a statement, said last February 12, they were able to recover 37 bricks of cocaine weighing 48.825 kilos with Dangerous Drug Board ( DDB) value of P244.1 million in Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; 40 bricks of cocaine with the same marking weighing 40 kilos with DDB value of P212 million last February 14-15, 2019 in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte; 34 bricks of cocaine weighing 43.62 kilos with DDB value of P231 million last

February 24, 2019 in Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and 40 bricks of cocaine weighing 48.575 kilos with DDB value of P257.4 million last April 7, 2019 in Burgos, Surigao del Norte.

He said they were able to collect a total of 160 bricks of cocaine weighing 190.825 kilos and DDB value of P946.4 million in a few months.

Cruz said the regional police office is calling on all residents in Caraga especially those residing along the coastlines to report to authorities any suspicious items they may find washed ashore or floating in the sea.

"Your involvement in our anti-illegal drugs, law enforcement operations and preservation of peace and order continue to inspire us in carrying out our mandate as provided for by law to fight illegal drugs with utmost respect for human rights," said Cruz. Ella Dionisio/DMS