P56-M marijuana burned in Ilocos

SUGPON, Ilocos Sur — At least P56-million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted and destroyed in a three-day sweep of clandestine plantations in Barangays Nava, Caoayan, and Licungan in this town through a joint operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the police, and the military.

Combined agents of the PDEA Regional Office 1 (RO1), the Philippine Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group-1 (PAF-TOG-1), the Philippine Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion (81IB) under the 7th Infantry Division (7ID), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also arrested a suspected cultivator during the marijuana eradication operations on February 13-15.

PDEA-RO1 Director Adrian G. Alvarino identified the suspect as Jomar C. Capucap, 26, of Barangay Licungan, here, who was caught in the act of hiding marijuana seeds ready for planting in a site where troops were clearing up the hemp fields.

“Capucap is now detained at the nearby Tagudin (Municipal) Police Station in Ilocos Sur and facing charges in court for violation of Sections 11 and 16 of Article 2 of R.A. 9165, the Comprehensive Anti- illegal Drug Law,” Alvarino said.

Adriano said operating troops destroyed a total of 170 grams of marijuana seeds, 730 kilograms of its dried leaves, and 162,873 fully-grown plants across a combined area of 2.3 hectares.

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) estimated the total value of the illegal marijuana products destroyed at R56,849,250.

He said the operation was planned two months ago and the plantation went under surveillance for weeks.

“We are resolute in clearing these plantation sites before it reaches the main populace as evidenced by Noelezar T. Molina,” said Alvarino, who was referring to the suspect caught in this town while transporting 105 kilos of marijuana valued at  R450,000 to Manila, recently. – LiezleBasaInigo with a report from Freddie G. Lazaro