LTO enforcer held for shabu; P2.5-M marijuana destroyed

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Two top drug personalities in the region, one an employee of the Land Transportation Office were arrested while over P2.5 million worth of marijuana plants was uprooted and destroyed during the anti-drug campaign last week in Cordillera.

      Arrested were Rodel Wagayon Akian, 31of Camanggaan, Virac, Itogon, Benguet who was arrested in his residence Sept. 11, while Ginno Manolo Castillo Banta, 29, LTO employee, and a resident of Fatima St., Bayan Park, Aurora Hill, Baguio City was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Suelo Village, Sto Thomas Proper in the city on Sept. 11.

      Confiscated from Akian were four sachets of suspected shabu, residue and drug paraphernalia while two sachets, boodle money, sling bag, cellphone, and drug paraphernalia were taken from Banta.

      This, as over P1.6 million worth of marijuana was eradicated in the provinces of Benguet and Kalinga while P480,000  worth of marijuana leaves was confiscated.

      Drug operatives of Kapangan police destroyed and uprooted a total of 8,300 fully grown marijuana plants, seedlings and dried marijuana leaves valued at P926,000 planted in a plantation at Tokob, Bileng, Sagubo, Kapangan, Benguet on Sept. 13.

      In another eradication operation, 5,000 fully grown marijuana plants worth P1 million were burned by drug operatives in Tulgao East, Tinglayan, Kalinga on Sept. 9.

      This, as P480,000 worth of dried marijuana leaves was confiscated by authorities at LBC, Purok 3, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga on Sept. 7, after personnel of  LBC discovered the contraband placed in a box covered with ground coffee which was supposed to be shipped by a female customer who fled after sensing the LBC employee was contacting the police.