Lawmen seize P1.1-M marijuana in Ilocos Sur-Benguet boundary

By Freddie Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police seized almost P1.1 million worth of marijuana plants in a mountainous area located at the boundary of Ilocos Sur and Benguet province, according to PDEA Region 1 Director Bryan Babang.
    Babang said operating troops uprooted 2,200 fully-grown marijuana plants from two plantation sites located in Barangay Licungan in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Sitio Culliang, Barangay Tacadang Kibungan, Benguet.
    The area had a total estimated area of 1,200 square meters, and the marijuana plants were estimated at P444,000.
    “Our joint operating troops also destroyed at least 3,300 pieces of marijuana seedlings worth P264,000, and discovered 3,300 grams of dried marijuana stalks and fruiting tops worth P412,500,” said Babang.
    He said the bulk of the seized marijuana plants was burned at the plantation sites.
    “Only samples were brought to PDEA Region 1 office for laboratory examination and documentation,” he said.
    According to Babang, the joint successful marijuana eradication operation of the PDEA agents and local policemen in La Union started on Sept. 30 and ended on Oct.1.
    The lawmen learned of the presence of the plantation sites in the area from their civilian asset in the area.
    He said a follow-up probe on the identification of the marijuana cultivators was ongoing.