PNP: 40 cocaine bricks retrieved off Surigao del Norte is worth P257.4M
MANILA, Philippines — The 40 cocaine bricks found afloat off the coastal town of Burgos in Surigao del Norte has been valued at P257.4 million.
This was the estimate issued by Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13) on Monday, following its analysis of the illegal packages recovered Sunday afternoon after three fisher folks spotted it two kilometers from the shoreline and reported their discovery to authorities.
In a report, PRO-13 Regional Director Brig. Gen. Gilberto Cruz said each cocaine brick bore markings of “3B BUGATTI.”
Cruz said the three fisher folks would be given reward for helping police in the anti-drug operations.
“A reward will be given to the three fishermen who significantly contributed in the successful recovery of these illegal drugs. Meanwhile, the long arm of the law will surely catch the person/s or syndicate group behind the spread of this illegal substance,” Cruz said in a statement.
READ: 40 bricks of suspected cocaine found floating off Surigao del Norte
Last February, PRO-13 operatives also discovered 40 cocaine bricks weighing 40 kilograms in Barangay Pacifico, San Isidro, Surigao del Norte with the same markings.
The pieces of evidence have been sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Office and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for examination and verification.
This incident is the latest in a series of cocaine bricks found off coastal areas in the country. Aside from the cocaine bricks marked with “3B BUGATTI”, another 37 cocaine blocks were previously found off Dinagat Island.
According to PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde, these illegal drugs were not meant for the Philippine drug market, as the seas were merely used as transshipment point. He said the bricks were equipped with global positioning system (GPS) devices, to enable cartels to monitor its locations. /kga
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