P2.4M worth of cannabis plants seized in Ilocos Sur

CAMP BGEN OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union – Ilocos police teaming up with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized worth of Php. 2.4 million marijuana plants or cannabis during the eradication operation discovered in planting sites in 3 separate areas tri-boundaries of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, and Kibungan, Benguet.
Police Regional Office 1 Director PBGen. Rodolfo Santos Azurin, Jr. reported that joint operatives of anti-drug narcotics Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 1 – Regional Intelligence Division, 103rd Maneuver Company, RMFB1, 2nd ISPMFC, Sugpon MPS, PDEU-ISPPO and PDEA-RO1, discovered some 8,100 fully grown marijuana plants and 10,000 marijuana seedlings with an estimated DDB value of Php 2,420,000 in three separate plantation sites on October 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
During the operations, the three plantation sites operatives which managed to discover the authorities are boundary of Brgy. Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Sitio Cullang, Brgy. Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet which 5,600 fully grown marijuana plants with DDB Value of Php 1,120,000 and approximate of 700 sqm land area.
At Sitio Salicocong, Brgy. Licungan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Sitio Cullang, Brgy. Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet, about                 2,500 fully grown marijuana plants with DDB Value of Php 500,000.00 and approximate 500 sqm land area.
While at Sitio Nagawa, Brgy. Caoayan, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Sitio Cullang, Brgy. Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet, about 10,000 marijuana seedlings with DDB Value of Php 800,000.00 and approximate 20 sqm. land area.
Azurin stressed that no cultivators arrested during the operation but the police are continuously conducting follow-up investigations.
Authorities immediately uprooted the illegal plants and burned them in the area, leaving only a few sample collected by the agents of PDEA-RO1, ISPO for Forensic Laboratory Analysis.
Marijuana cultivation is prohibited under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.