Palawan: Police operatives have recovered more than PHP133 million worth of suspected illegal drugs in a coastal area of Linapacan, Palawan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated that joint personnel from the Linapacan Municipal Police Station, Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Unit, and Provincial Intelligence Unit responded to a call from a concerned resident of Brgy. Maroyog-royog, Linapacan around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The informant reported that a certain alias ‘Benjo’ discovered packages believed to contain illegal drugs along the coastline of Sitio Calelenday.

Upon arrival, the responding teams found several boxes wrapped in black tape and marked with the word ‘stone,’ scattered along the shoreline. The boxes contained suspected cocaine with an estimated total weight of 25,210 grams and a standard drug price of PHP133.6 million. The recovered evidence has been turned over to the Palawan Provincial Forensic Unit and will be forwarded to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Palawan Office for proper handling and disposition.

The PNP reiterated its commitment to sustaining aggressive operations and strengthening public cooperation in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who continues to emphasize that a safer, more secure, and drug-free Philippines is a top priority. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o underscored the importance of continuing proactive measures in remote areas. ‘Hindi natin pwedeng hayaang gamitin ng sindikato ang mga baybayin at isla bilang drop-off points (We cannot allow the syndicate to use the coasts and islands as drop-off points). Every recovery, like this one, denies criminals the opportunity to distribute illegal drugs in our communities,’ he said.