P135 million worth marijuana destroyed

By Myds Supnad  

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - More than P135 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings was destroyed in the Cordillera less than two months, it was reported here Tuesday.

Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director, said that from January to Feb. 21, combined police operatives and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents destroyed on site the marijuana, surpassing its eradication accomplishment of the illegal plant same period last year.

            

The plantations were discovered in the different parts of the Cordillera with an estimated total land area of more than 9.5 hectares.

            

Magalong stated successful operations against illegal drugs were the result of local government units and community support to the PNP.

            

He said operations against all forms of illegal drugs will continue and anti-narcotics agents will sustain the operation by regularly visiting plantation areas to discourage the people from cultivating marijuana.

            

Despite the police’s operations against it, however, the illegal cultivation of marijuana in the region appears without let up.

            

For the past decades, the Cordillera has been identified by law enforcement agencies as the major source of marijuana being circulated in most parts of the archipelago.

            

Magalong directed all police operating units region-wide to establish linkage with local leaders and the community so they will gather information leading to destruction of more marijuana plantations.