Fishermen recover big cocaine haul

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Oscar Albayalde presented on Tuesday, April 24, the 28 kilos of high-grade cocaine, the 16.5 liters of liquid substance allegedly used for the production of cocaine, and a tracking device that were recovered by fishermen in the waters off Quezon province.

Albayalde said the contraband items were recovered by the fishermen in three separate occasions since last week.

He said a week ago, fishermen from the Perez town in the said province recovered a container found to contain 28 kilos of cocaine in the waters of Camarines Norte.

On Sunday evening, April 22, fishermen Jayner Tisou, Michael Sekreto, Joven Mendez and Virgilio Yanilla recovered another container in the waters off Calauag Island in the boundary of Quezon and Camarines Norte.

The container was found to contain at least 16.5 liters of illegal substance used for the manufacturing of cocaine.

According to the police, the substance can make around 13 kilos of high-grade cocaine which approximately worth P130 million.

Four other fishermen turned over to the police equipment they believed to be a tracking device.

Albayalde expressed belief that the items recovered were thrown by a group that may be part of a big cartel based on the methods they used for their distribution.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, newly installed Police Region Office Calabarzon chief, meanwhile, said the syndicate responsible for the contraband attached the tracking device to facilitate recovery.

Eleazar said the police are now conducting in-depth investigation to identify the drug personalities behind the contraband.