Tests show floaters were cocaine

The 37 blocks found floating near the Dinagat Island shores were cocaine.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde confirmed this on Saturday following tests made on the substance.

Some of the blocks were recovered by a fisherman while the others were brought to the shore by the waves.

“I talked with the regional director there, seemingly (the blocks found) were positive in a test as cocaine substance,” Albayalde said.

The total weight of the 37 blocks, according to the PNP chief, was 88 kilograms.

Albayalde believes the cocaine blocks were intentionally left at sea and has GPS devices which will be picked up and delivered to other places.

The total weight of the 37 blocks, according to the PNP chief, was 88 kilograms.

“Remember cocaine is not a popular (illegal drugs) here (in the country), although it is used.

(But) because of its price, it is less popular (than others),” Albayalde said.

“Actually this kind of strategy is not new to us, we have recovered (blocks) like this incident in the past,” he added.

On Friday it was reported that the 37 blocks of alleged cocaine were found by a fisherman from Sitio Habongan in Barangay Poblacion, Cagdianao on Tuesday afternoon.

Also last week, fishermen from Camarines Norte were able to fish out a one-kilo of cocaine with a street value of P5.4 million.