P106-M ‘grass’ confiscated at Ilocos, Benguet boundary

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP PRES. QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur- Anti-drug operatives discovered and confiscated marijuana plants and seedlings worth P106.6 million following a marijuana eradication operation at the boundary of Benguet and Ilocos Sur provinces last week.

Supt. Raul Romero, regional police public information officer, said combined elements of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Public Safety Company, the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office 1 and police stations of Sugpon and Alilem towns in Ilocos Sur participated in the early morning operation.

Ilocos Sur police director Senior Supt. Eduardo A. Dopale said the operation was led by Chief Insp. Greg T. Guerrero in two marijuana plantation sites at Mt. Kenhetgaw, located at the boundary of Barangay Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet, and Sitio Nagawen, Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur.

“The plantation area covers approximately 20,000 square meters, from which our operatives uprooted about 350,000 fully-grown marijuana plants and 40,000 marijuana seedlings,” Dopale said.

The seized marijuana was valued at P106.6 million, based on the estimate of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

No person was apprehended during the operation.

Some of the marijuana plants were hauled by the operating troops to the Ilocos Sur provincial police office at Camp President Elpidio Quirinoin Bantay town as evidence.

The rest were burned at the site.