40 kilos of marijuana confiscated, 2 nabbed

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union- Police arrested the driver and conductor of a passenger jeepney after the policemen confiscated from them 40 kilos of dried marijuana leaves they concealed on the vehicle along the boundary of Balaoan and Santol towns last week.

Sr. Supt. Noli Talino, La Union police director, said his men led by Chief Insp. Reynaldo L. Lizardo, acting officer of the provincial anti-illegal drug, collared Apolonio Dangla, driver and his conductor Felmin Aliles, both of barangay Sasaba, Santol town, after the two tried two tried to evade arrest when police accosted them in a mobile checkpoint along the highway boundary here.

The arrest of the two came after the policemen were tipped off about the reported regular transport of the two of dried marijuana leaves using their own passenger jeep as courier. “May nag report sa amin na ginagawa nilang pang biyahe ng marijuana etong jeep nila kung kayat nag plano kami na aabangan namin sila. Noong nakita na namin silang dumarating ay bigla namin silang pinahinto. Nagulat na lamang kami nang makita namin sa loob ng hood na may mga cartoon na nakabalot na puno ng matrijuana,” said Major Lizardo.

He said as soon as the policemen noticed the cartoons full of marijuana concealed inside the hood, the driver and conductor tried to run away but they were immediately collared by the policemen.

Talino said the cases of the two was a serious offense which he said is a non-bailable case.

A total of 39 bricks of marijuana were confiscated from the suspects.

Lizardo said the jeepney regularly transported passengers from Santol to Balaoan and that the two have reportedly been using the trips to transport illegal drugs until a concerned resident in the area tipped off the police about the marijuana.