Floating cocaine: Only in the Philippines – PDEA chief

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency do an inventory of some of the cocaine packages found on a beach in Caraga town, Davao Oriental. PHOTO BY NATHANIEL QUINONES

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino said Tuesday that floating cocaine had so far been recorded only in the Philippines, citing information from 65 countries.

“Nakipag-coordinate na kami sa 65 countries at sa Pilipinas lang nagkakaroon ng ganitong floating cocaine,” Aquino said in an interview with DZMM.

(We have coordinated with 65 countries and only the Philippines recorded incidents of floating cocaine.)

Authorities recorded 12 discoveries of floating cocaine in the country’s eastern seaboard from February 10 to March 3, with the amount of illegal drugs recovered weighing 168.73 kilos estimated to be worth P892,844,266.

But even now, Aquino said that the PDEA was still “blank” in establishing any leads regarding the discoveries.

“Even the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) told me that it’s a mystery. Hindi pa rin nila mabigyan ng assessment kung bakit nagkakaroon ng floating cocaine,” he said.

(Even the US DEA told me that it’s a mystery. They cannot give an assessment yet why there were incidents of floating cocaine.)

Aquino said the PDEA was collaborating with international counterparts to investigate the sources of the cocaine being recovered in the country’s waters. /cbb

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