BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR
Authorities continue to intensify their crackdown on illegal drugs in Northern Luzon, with separate operations in Benguet and La Union resulting in the destruction of over a million pesos worth of marijuana and the confiscation of shabu and dried marijuana leaves from three suspects.
In the mountainous areas of Kibungan, Benguet, a joint operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Cordillera and the Benguet Provincial Police Office led to the discovery and destruction of three marijuana plantations.
The operations were conducted in Sitio Walayan and Sitio Tudag, both located in Barangay Tacadang.
A total of 675 marijuana plants, valued at 135,000 pesos, were uprooted in Sitio Walayan.
Meanwhile, in Sitio Tudag, authorities discovered eight kilos of dried marijuana leaves and additional marijuana plants estimated to be worth more than 1 million pesos.
No cultivators were apprehended during the raids.
Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for maintaining the plantations.
In a separate operation in La Union, agents from PDEA Region 1 and the La Union Provincial Police Office arrested two men and a woman during a buy-bust operation around 10:20 AM on April 29 at Purok 5, Sitio Paratong, Barangay Poblacion, Bacnotan.
The suspects were identified only by their aliases: Papet, 48, a resident of Bacnotan; Mark, 23, from Dasmariñas, Cavite; and Zarah, 34, from San Juan, La Union.
Confiscated from the trio were three sachets and a plastic container with a total of 90 grams of suspected shabu, along with four grams of dried marijuana leaves.
Authorities estimate the total value of the seized items at 612,000 pesos.
“They will all be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. This is part of our continuing efforts to eliminate illegal drug activities in the region,” said a PDEA Region 1 spokesperson.
The suspects are now under the custody of the authorities as further legal proceedings are being prepared.
