Cocaine brick sightings prompts PCG to increase patrol of eastern seaboard

A fisherman found 16 bricks of suspected cocaine along the shores of a barangay in Lingig, Surigao del Sur. (File photo from CARAGA POLICE dated May 1, 2019)

MANILA, Philippines — The recovery of over P122.7 million worth of suspected cocaine floating in the shorelines and waters off Eastern Visayas and Mindanao prompted the Philippine Coast Guard to heighten its alert in the eastern seaboard of the archipelago.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered intensified vessel monitoring, intelligence operations, and expanded coastal security patrols in these areas.

READ: Bundles of cocaine found anew in waters off Samar Island

Gavan also directed local PCG personnel to improve its communications with local fisherfolks “for a more robust monitoring system.”

Fisherfolks and coastal residents found identical cocaine bricks in Eastern Samar, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

On March 8, a fisherfolk found 20 bricks of suspected cocaine “bricks” off Barangay Tangbo in Arteche town, Eastern Samar.

The illegal drugs weighed 25 kilos and valued at P106 million.

Students also found one brick of suspected cocaine along the shorelines of Barangay Bitaug, Burgos, Surigao del Norte on March 8.

It weighed over one kilo and its value was estimated at P5.7 million.

On March 9, the PCG also recorded another recovery of alleged bricks of cocaine along the shoreline of Barangay Valencia, Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

The first recorded sighting of suspected cocaine bricks occurred on March 4 at Barangay Bongtud, Tandag city, Surigao del Sur, where two fishermen found the smuggled products.

The items weighed over one kilo and they were also valued at P5.7 million.

— With intern Ana Mae Malate