Do not keep cocaine bricks – PNP warns residents of coastal communities

The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned yesterday fishermen and residents of coastal community not to keep any brick of cocaine that they might find in the sea or at their shoreline.

PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said that possession of illegal drugs would only cause big trouble for any local residents who would be caught with the contraband since illegal possession of illegal drugs is usually a non-bailable offense.

"We appeal to them to cooperate with the police, they should inform the local police if they find bricks of cocaine in their community," said Banac.

"They should not make money out of it. They should be aware that they will end up in jail if they are caught in possession of the cocaine," said Banac.

Last week, 90 bricks of cocaine, each weighing more or less one kilo, were recovered off the waters and shorelines of Dinagat Island, Camarines Norte and Surigao del Norte.

Authorities believe that the cocaine bticks are part of a large drug haul which were dumped in the open seas and were suppposed to be picked up by smaller ships.

The four incidents of recovered cocaine were a result of fishermen or local residents informing the police of their find either in the sea or on the shorelines.

Banac said they are thankful that local residents have been cooperating with the government in getting rid of illegal drugs.

But he said that they are not discounting the possibility that some fishermen or local residents might have been keeping cocaine bricks to make money.

"That is always a possibility. So we are appealing to them to cooperate and just think of what would happen to them and their family if they are arrested," said Banac.

The cocaine bricks that were recovered last week, according to Banac, was not for distribution in the Philippines but to other countries.