Cocaine found on PHL shores likely headed for Australia —PNP

Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac said Thursday that the cocaine bricks recovered from eastern shores of the country could have been brought to Australia.

At a press conference in Camp Crame on Thursday Banac said that the information came out during a discussion with the Australian Federal Police.

“Naipahayag ni General Albayalde na may bago tayong impormasyon na nakuha kung saan ang mga cocaine na natagpuan sa iba't ibang bahagi ng eastern seaboard ng ating bansa ay patungo sa Australia," Banac said.

"The fact remains na ang eastern part ng Philippines is a transshipment point for illegal drugs lalo na 'yung cocaine," he added.

Earlier, in an interview on "News To Go", PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said Australia has a bigger market for cocaine compared to the Philippines.

"Ang Pilipinas is number 14 from below sa use ng cocaine. Kung shabu 'yan, pwede pa siguro. But with the cocaine, I don't think meron tayong ganyang kalaking market," he said.

Albayalde also broached the idea that the cocaine bricks found floating in the sea or found on the shore were either washed away or intentionally thrown into the water and to be later on retrieved covertly.

On the other hand, authorities are still clueless as to the source of the contraband.

Meanwhile, local authorities have sent samples of the cocaine to their Australian counterpart for examination.

Since February 10, over 100 kilograms of cocaine have been recovered from the country's eastern shores —from the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur in Luzon, to the Dinagat group of islands in Caraga region, Davao Oriental, Surigao Del Norte, and Surigao Del Sur in Mindanao.

Police estimate pegs the value of the recently recovered cocaine at P800 million. —with Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News