Four fishermen surrender cocaine worth P159M found off Cagayan coast

Four fishermen voluntarily surrendered 26 packages of suspected cocaine weighing 30.15 kilograms and valued at P159.795 million after finding them floating in waters off Aparri, Cagayan, on 14 November.

The fishermen, all residents of Barangay Sanja, Aparri, turned over the suspected illegal drugs to the Aparri Police Station at around 10:30 a.m.

According to the Cagayan Police Provincial Office (PPO), the fishermen were fishing approximately 40 nautical miles from the coastline, near the boundary of Barangay Fuga and Camiguin Island, when they spotted a black rectangular package floating near their boat.

Upon retrieving and opening its outer packaging, they discovered 26 brick-shaped packages wrapped in transparent plastic, bearing a repeated double-G pattern and a red image of lips and tongue.

Instead of keeping or selling the packages, the fishermen immediately contacted the police and voluntarily surrendered the items.

The recovery was led by the Aparri Police Station under PMaj. Vilmore D. Mallillin, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cagayan Provincial Office, PDEA Regional Office 2 Special Investigation Unit, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 2.

The operation was conducted under Project S.P.I.E.S. (Strengthening Ports Interdiction Enhancement Security), which the police said has involved community dialogues and barangay visits to encourage coastal residents, particularly fishermen, to report suspicious objects found at sea.

Police personnel conducted the marking and inventory of the recovered packages in the presence of barangay officials.

The items, consisting of one rectangular package and 25 additional vacuum-sealed packs containing a powdery substance suspected to be cocaine, are currently under the custody of the Aparri Police Station pending their formal turnover to the PDEA Regional Special Enforcement Team 2 in Tuguegarao City for laboratory examination and confirmation.

Cagayan PPO Provincial Director PCOL Mardito G. Anguluan commended the four fishermen for their honesty and prompt surrender of the suspected contraband, as well as the responding police units for their immediate action.

Anguluan emphasized the importance of community participation in preventing the entry and distribution of illegal drugs in the province.

He also urged fishermen and coastal communities to immediately report suspicious discoveries to the nearest police station, warning individuals and groups involved in illegal drugs against using Cagayan's waters and coastal areas as transit routes or hiding places for contraband.

The police said they would continue intelligence-driven operations and community partnerships to strengthen security along the province's coastline.