PRO-CAR nabs 3 drug suspects, seizes ₱9.15M drugs

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-CAR) arrested three drug personalities and seized illegal drugs worth ₱9,150,940 during a series of anti-illegal drug operations conducted in Benguet, Mountain Province, and Apayao on December 11 and 12, 2025.

The most significant arrest occurred in Benguet, where police apprehended a 30-year-old male identified as a High Value Individual (HVI) after seizing ₱7.35 million worth of suspected marijuana during a checkpoint operation in Kibungan.

According to the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO), personnel from the Kibungan Municipal Police Station (MPS) were conducting a checkpoint along Bado Dangwa National Road when a black vehicle ignored the checkpoint and sped away.

Police immediately pursued the vehicle and intercepted it in Sitio Sapdaan, Barangay Sagpat, Kibungan.

A subsequent inspection of the vehicle led to the discovery of 61 tubular packs of suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing 61,250 grams, with a Standard Drug Price (SDP) of ₱7,350,000.

The suspect was arrested and the evidence confiscated.

Earlier in Benguet, joint operatives also discovered four marijuana plantation sites during a marijuana eradication operation in Barangay Kayapa and Barangay Sinacbat in Bakun, and Barangay Badeo in Kibungan.

Authorities uprooted and burned 7,850 fully grown marijuana plants and 5,000 marijuana seedlings, with a combined SDP of ₱1,770,000.

The operation involved personnel from the 1st and 2nd Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), Bakun MPS, Kibungan MPS, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Regional Intelligence Unit 14 (RIU-14), Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of PRO-CAR, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-CAR.

Meanwhile, in Mountain Province, police arrested a 30-year-old male listed as a Street Level Individual (SLI) during the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Bantay, Paracelis.

Confiscated from the suspect’s residence were five packets of suspected shabu weighing 4.49 grams, with an SDP of ₱30,532, along with assorted drug paraphernalia.

The operation was carried out by joint operatives from Paracelis MPS, Besao MPS, PDEU and PIU, 2nd Mountain Province PMFC, RID PRO-CAR, RIU-14, and PDEA–Mountain Province.

In Apayao, another Street Level Individual, a 45-year-old male, was arrested following the service of a search warrant in Kabugao.

Seized from the suspect’s house were two sachets of suspected shabu weighing 0.06 grams, with an SDP of ₱408.

The operation was led by personnel from Kabugao MPS, PDEU and PIU of Apayao PPO, RID PRO-CAR, RIU-14, 2nd Apayao PMFC, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15.

All arrested suspects and confiscated evidence were turned over to the custody of the respective lead operating units for documentation and proper disposition.

The suspects will face charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PRO-CAR reiterated its commitment to intensifying anti-illegal drug operations to protect communities across the Cordillera Administrative Region.