Police seize P7.5M drugs in Cordillera raids

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Police seized illegal drugs worth more than PHP 7.5 million and arrested three suspected drug personalities in a series of anti-narcotics operations across Benguet, Kalinga, and Baguio City over two days, authorities said Tuesday.

Operatives of the Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) uncovered 21 marijuana plantations containing more than 25,000 fully grown marijuana plants in Benguet and Kalinga during eradication operations on February 8 and 9, with a combined estimated street value of PHP 7.546 million.

In Benguet alone, police discovered 13 plantations with 11,080 marijuana plants and 21 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves in the towns of Bakun, Kapangan, and Kibungan, valued at PHP 4.736 million, PRO CAR said.

Authorities said all marijuana plants were immediately uprooted and destroyed, with investigations continuing to identify those behind the illegal cultivation.

Police also arrested three men in separate buy-bust operations in Benguet and Baguio City, seizing a total of 2.34 grams of suspected shabu worth nearly PHP 16,000.

A 35-year-old man was arrested in La Trinidad, Benguet, while two other suspects, aged 31 and 29, were arrested in Barangays Bakakeng Central and Queen of Peace in Baguio City, police said.

The suspects are in custody and will face charges under Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.