PNP boosts efforts to recover 1.9 tons of cocaine

PALO, Leyte, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has joined hands with local officials and non-government organizations as part of its efforts to account for all the 1.9 tons of cocaine dumped in the waters of Samar last December.

Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, PNP deputy chief for administration, said authorities have offered goods and cash for anyone who would surrender the cocaine bricks.

Soriano said the PNP’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force is offering P1,000 while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is offering a sack of rice in exchange for a cocaine brick surrendered to the authorities.

“Governors and mayors in this region are very supportive of our effort to recover the cocaine,” said Soriano, adding that the illegal drug should be recovered to prevent innocent individuals from being addicted to it.

In a press conference at the Eastern Visayas police regional headquarters at Camp Kangleon here, Soriano led the turnover of 111.5 kilos of cocaine to the officials of PDEA, the government agency in charge of the campaign against illegal drugs.

The cocaine has a street value of P557.5 million, according the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Lañada, outgoing Eastern Visayas police director, said a total of 451.821 kilos of cocaine with a street value of P2.259 billion has so far been accounted for.

Lañada said they are still preparing to coordinate with Hong Kong authorities for the comparison of the cocaine seized from Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson to the cocaine dumped by a Chinese vessel in the waters of Samar last December.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said the verification would help police determine the extent of the proliferation of the cocaine from Samar. – With Miriam Garcia Desacada