Authorities destroy P2.1million marijuana plants

By Dexter A. See

KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Police and anti-narcotics agents destroyed over P2.1 million worth of marijuana plants in four plantation sites during a marijuana eradication operation here at Sitio Bineng, Palina last week.

Chief Supt. Samuel B. Diciano, police deputy regional director for administration, said the contraband was composed of over P1.5 million worth of dried marijuana leaves, and more than 3,200 fully-grown marijuana plants with an estimated market value of P640, 000.

But Diciano said government forces will continue marijuana eradication operation the coming days after they spotted other plantation sites in the far-flung areas of this remote town.

The towns of Kibungan, Bakun, and Kapangan are well-known marijuana producing areas in the province because of their proximity to the remote towns of La Union and Ilocos Sur that also serve as producers of the illegal hemp.

Diciano ordered the conduct of marijuana eradication operations in identified plantation sites in the province and other parts of the region so that they could prevent the distribution of the illegal hemp to the different parts of the country in order to slowly remove the title of the Cordillera as the major marijuana producer.

The operating troops in the said operation included the regional anti-illegal drugs special operations task group, Benguet provincial police office, Kibungan municipal police station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Cordillera.