Dumped marijuana resurfaces in Navotas

Some five kilos of marijuana leaves were fished last Thursday night by homeward-bound fishermen in waters off Navotas, local anti-drug authorities reported yesterday.

The haul is believed to be part of some 200 kilos dumped by drug couriers from a foreign cargo vessel that was anchored near Manila Bay’s breakwater last Thursday.

Inspector Roy Bugtong of the Navotas Station Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Unit (SAID-SOU) said the fishermen collected five plastic bags of marijuana leaves which they found floating at around 7 p.m. as they set for home in Navotas.

Luisito Geraldino, 37, and his companions turned over their "catch" to Barangay Chairman Rolando San Juan of Barangay Bangkulasi.

The fishermen told officials these were the only ones they retrieved from the water. Some of the bags thrown overboard by the suspects broke, scattering their contents in the sea.

The fishermen turned over their wet catch to the local barangay officials who, in turn, surrendered them to Bugtong for disposition.

Bugtong said the marijuana is now being sun-dried before being kept as evidence.

Anti-drug agents seized 50 of some 250 kilos of dried marijuana leaves being loaded on the MV Xingang, a German-registered cargo ship bound for Indonesia. A Filipino crewman was arrested.

At least five traveling bags were being loaded from a banca when the raiders struck.

Someone had cut the rope hoisting the bags which fell into the water.