Cordillera police destroy P4.1M marijuana, seize illegal lumber

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  — Anti-drug operatives in the northern Philippines destroyed marijuana plants worth more than 4 million pesos and seized abandoned illegal lumber in a series of operations across the mountainous Cordillera region, police said Tuesday.

The Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) said officers uprooted and burned marijuana plants with a combined standard drug price of 4,130,000 pesos ($74,000) in Benguet province on Feb. 23.

In Kibungan town, authorities discovered 10 plantation sites containing 7,650 fully grown marijuana plants and 20 kilograms of marijuana leaves with fruiting tops valued at 3,930,000 pesos.

The operations covered villages in Badeo and Tacadang.

Another 750 fully grown marijuana plants worth 150,000 pesos were found in Barangay Kayapa in Bakun town, while 250 plants valued at 50,000 pesos were discovered in a communal forest in Barangay Pongyan, Kapangan.

Police units, provincial drug enforcement teams and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency took part in the coordinated raids.

Samples were sent to a regional forensic laboratory for examination, while investigations continue to identify those behind the illegal plantations.

In a separate anti-illegal logging operation on the same day, police and environment officers seized 15 pieces of abandoned lumber in Barangay Taggay, Pinukpuk, Kalinga province.

The lumber, totaling 156.5 board feet and valued at 9,390 pesos, was concealed under coconut leaves and later turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office for proper disposition.

Earlier, on Feb. 22, separate anti-drug operations led to the destruction of marijuana plants worth 1,504,000 pesos in Benguet and the arrest of a 30-year-old man in Baguio City.

Police said 7,520 marijuana plants were eradicated in Kibungan and Bakun towns.

In Baguio, officers arrested a suspected street-level drug personality during a buy-bust operation in San Luis Village after he allegedly sold 0.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, worth 3,400 pesos.

The suspect faces charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PRO CAR said it would intensify operations against illegal drugs and environmental crimes to safeguard communities and natural resources in the region.