The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Naval Command has recovered 36 bricks of suspected cocaine during a maritime patrol operation in the West Philippine Sea.

According to a report from the Philippine Navy, two floating sacks were first spotted by the BRP Ladislao Diwa about 1.2 nautical miles off Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The military immediately turned over the recovered sacks to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which later confirmed that they contained cocaine worth an estimated ₱214.4 million.

Just last week, the Philippine Coast Guard also recovered ₱56 million worth of floating cocaine in the same waters, initially discovered by local fishermen, as reported by Edniel Parrosa.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has since coordinated with PDEA to determine not only the source but also the intended destination of the floating cocaine.

Acting PNP Chief PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez has also ordered intensified coastal patrols across the country’s maritime territories to prevent similar incidents.