Cocaine blocks in PH waters 'a diversionary tactic': PDEA

MANILA – Philippine law enforcers have found at least P200 million worth of cocaine floating in Philippine waters, but the country's drug enforcement agency believes the drugs are just a diversionary tactic.

PDEA Director Undersecretary Aaron Aquino said
P200-million worth of cocaine--recovered in the Eastern side of the country--is nothing compared to the P10 billion-P15 billion worth of shabu that drug syndicates smuggle into the country.

"Wala ka man lang makita dito sa Western side. There is a probability na pino-float itong cocaine sa Eastern side while a big shipment of shabu is now going dito sa Western or even dito sa Northern part," he said in a radio DZMM interview.

They also noticed that some of floating cocaine had been in the water for about 2-3 months before they were found.

"Meron tayong naobserbahan na kinakapitan na ng shell 'yung mga lambat kung saan nakabalot 'yung floating cocaine na ang ibig sabihin nun, sa assessment ng PDEA, mga November pa na nasa laot," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the recent discovery of cocaine packages found floating off Philippine shores proves that notorious international drug cartels have penetrated the country.

• Duterte says international drug cartels behind floating cocaine packages

Aquino has claimed drug syndicates may be using the Philippines as a "transshipment point" for cocaine which is repacked here before it is sent to Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and other nearby countries.

• PNP: 164 kilos of cocaine recovered in February in Philippine waters

Blocks of cocaine were first found along the shores of Camarines Norte on Feb. 10. Similar contraband were discovered in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Aurora.