More cocaine seized in Davao

MANILA, Philippines - Barely 24 hours after police seized some eight kilos of high-grade cocaine, another eight kilos of suspected cocaine were found in a compound of shipping containers in Davao City yesterday.

Former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Vicente Sotto III said Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario, Davao City police chief, informed him of the latest find after local law enforcers again visited the premises yesterday morning.

“Another eight kilos of suspected (cocaine) powder was discovered at the Maersk container port area located at the Old Airport Road, Sasa, Davao City around 12:30 p.m.,” Apolinario said.

“This is very dangerous because this is no longer shabu, this is cocaine,” Sotto said in a statement.

Superintendent Alden Delvo, Sasa police chief, said a worker found the first packs of the illegal substance hidden in the reefer machine of two shipping containers at the Maersk container yard at the old Sasa airport.

The Maersk management called up the police after suspecting that the contraband could be illegal drugs.

Authorities confirmed the substance to be high-grade cocaine worth some P54.6 million based on estimated street value.

Apolinario said Maersk, one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, is cooperating with the investigation.

Police are now investigating as to how the cargo was shipped into the country by identifying the consignee, the arrival date of the shipping containers, and other details.  

Apolinario said they would conduct further inspection in the Maersk container yard since there are others that may also have illegal drugs.

The shipping containers reportedly came from Pakistan, passing through Malaysia, before arriving in Davao City on Nov. 17 and were transferred to the Maersk container yard only on Wednesday.

Apolinario suspects that this is not the first time that there was such a shipment of illegal drugs in the city using this modus operandi.

He said those behind the shipment could be an international drug syndicate since the shipping containers came from Pakistan.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the burning of the contraband and a thorough investigation to determine if there was connivance of personnel from some government agencies.

The Bureau of Customs yesterday formed Task Force Coke to thoroughly investigate the cocaine seized at the Davao City container yard.

BOC-Davao district collector Ronnie Silvestre said they will work closely with Maersk, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the local police to identify those responsible for the smuggling of the illegal drug.

Sotto, who resigned from the DDB last month to pursue a senatorial seat in 2010, said cocaine’s entry in the Philippines at such a huge amount is definitely something to be concerned about.

“Although the seizure is a very good development, I’m alarmed at the fact that we are facing a more serious foe,” he said, referring to drug syndicates who are into trafficking cocaine.

“The country will face a far greater problem if this goes unchecked,” said Sotto, who is advocating for stronger anti-drug laws.

He said shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride ranks “poor fourth” among abused substances worldwide next only to cocaine, heroine, and marijuana. – With Edith Regalado, Ben Serrano and Evelyn Macairan