P3.8M marijuana plants destroyed in Benguet

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Over P3 million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants and marijuana stalks were eradicated in the mountainous town of Kibungan, Kapangan and Bakun, in Benguet province by combined operating personnel of Benguet Provincial Police Office.

Police Colonel Elmer Ragay, provincial director, said the two day marijuana eradication on January 8-9, 2020, was successfully uprooted a total of 16,180 fully grown marijuana plants and the discovery of 5 kilos of dried marijuana stalks with the DDB total value of P3,836,000.

Ragay said joint personnel of Kapangan MPS led by PLt. Melvin Cante, Barangay Official of Beling-Belis, Benguet Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Benguet Police Intelligence Branch (PIB) and PDEA Cordillera conducted marijuana plantation validation at Gotgoto, Beleng-Belis, Kapangan that resulted to the discovery of more or less 15,000 fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated DDB value of P3, 000,000.00 planted in more or less 1,500 square meters lot.

In Bakun, led by PCapt. John Dangiwan, conducted marijuana eradication at sitio Tubongan, Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet and resulted to the destruction of 1,060 fully grown marijuana plants planted in a land area of 270 square meters with estimated DDB value of P212, 000.00.

Personnel of Kibungan MPS conducted marijuana eradication on three sites at Sitio Dupinas Brgy. Palina, Kibungan, Benguet that resulted to the destruction of 120 fully grown marijuana plants on a 30 square meters lot with estimated DDB value of P24, 000.00.

Ragay added that while operating troops were scouring nearby areas for possible presence of marijuana plantation, they discovered 5 kilos of dried marijuana stalks with a dangerous drug board value of P600,000.00 that was concealed on tall grasses near the plantation.

All marijuana plants during the three operations were uprooted and burned on site except for a few samples that will be submitted to the RCLO Cordillera for qualitative examination.

Meanwhile, no cultivator was arrested during the operations. Ragay, commended the operating troops for a job well done and said that Benguet Police are optimistic and serious in its unrelenting campaign against illegal drugs and this recent operation will serve as a warning to all those who engage in the cultivation of illegal drugs.

Zaldy Comanda/ABN

Amianan Balita Ngayon