P106 million cocaine seized off Eastern Samar town

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Two plastic bags, which contained 20 cocaine bricks, were found floating in the waters off the coast of Arteche, Eastern Samar on Friday.

A fisherman identified only as Lemuel, a resident of Barangay Tangbo, fished out the illegal drugs and turned them over to the Eastern Samar Drug Enforcement unit.

Police said the estimated value of the cocaine bricks, which weighed 25 kilos, is P106 million.

An investigation is underway to determine the source of the illegal drugs.

Cocaine bricks recovered by fishermen are believed to have been intentionally dropped in the sea to be picked up by illegal drug traders.

In Iloilo, shabu with an estimated street value of P1.87 million was recovered in Carles town on Friday, Western Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said.

A certain Jan-Jan, 25, who was found in possession of the illegal drugs, was arrested in Barangay Guinticgan yesterday, Wanky said.

Raymond Salvilla, 46, was arrested.

Operatives of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group said the suspect yielded shabu worth P782,000 in a sting in Barangay Unka 1 in Pavia town.