Police seek owner of P1.92-M cyanide found in Sarangani

KORONADAL CITY — Police are trying to identify those behind at least two tons of sodium cyanide, a highly poisonous chemical, worth P1.92 million, found in an abandoned truck in the coastal town of Maasim, Sarangani province.

Maj. Herman Luna, chief of the Maasim Municipal Police Station, said the chemicals were packed in 32 sacks and loaded onto a 10-wheeler truck parked near Tubong Beach in Barangay Tinoto around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Luna said police went to the area after receiving reports of suspicious activity involving the truck along the shoreline.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Chinese fishermen’s cyanide use in Ayungin ‘unacceptable’

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

However, the driver and his companions reportedly fled upon noticing the approaching police officers, leaving the truck and its cargo behind.

When police inspected the vehicle, they found several sacks that they initially believed contained fertilizer.

Personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) later inspected the sacks and identified their contents as sodium cyanide, a highly poisonous chemical.

The chemicals weighed about 2,035 kilograms and were valued at P1.92 million.

Article continues after this advertisement

Police are checking whether the chemicals were intended for illegal fishing or mining activities.

Sodium cyanide is commonly used to extract gold and silver from mineral ores.

Article continues after this advertisement

Luna said investigators found no documents inside the truck that could help them identify the chemicals’ origin, owner or intended destination.

The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) earlier said authorities had received information about the suspected illegal transport and possession of dangerous chemicals in the area.

PRO-12 director Brig. Gen. Alan Manibog said police had been ordered to step up checkpoint inspections, especially in coastal communities, to prevent dangerous chemicals from being transported without proper authorization.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

He said police were also monitoring chemicals that could harm marine life, including fish and coral reefs in Sarangani Bay.The truck and the seized chemicals were turned over to MENRO Maasim, with representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau in Region 12 present during the turnover. /mcm