₱30.4M marijuana crops destroyed in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY — Police in the Cordillera Administrative Region destroyed marijuana plants and products worth ₱30.46 million during coordinated eradication operations in Kalinga and Benguet on January 13, 2026, authorities said.

In Kalinga, operatives uncovered six plantations containing 81,500 fully grown marijuana plants valued at ₱16.3 million in barangays Loccong, Tulgao East, Buscalan, Butbut Proper, and Ngibat in Tinglayan.

The operations were carried out by joint teams from the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, municipal police stations, Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Companies, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Kalinga.

Meanwhile, in Benguet, authorities discovered 23 plantations with 61,570 fully grown plants, 1,250 seedlings, and 15,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth ₱14.16 million in Kibungan (barangays Tacadang and Poblacion) and Kapangan (barangay Sagubo).

Participating units included the Benguet PPO, municipal police, 1st Benguet PMFC, PRO CAR intelligence units, and PDEA-CAR.

All marijuana plants and seized products were destroyed on site.

Police said investigations are ongoing to locate additional plantations and identify those responsible for the illegal cultivation.