PRO CAR seizes ₱2.3M drugs in Cordillera ops

BAGUIO CITY — Four drug personalities were arrested while illegal drugs worth ₱776,840 were seized in a series of anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) in Kalinga and Benguet on December 18, 2025.

In Rizal, Kalinga, operatives serving a search warrant arrested a 33-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, both listed as High Value Individuals (HVIs), after discovering 53.3 grams of suspected shabu with a Standard Drug Price (SDP) of ₱362,440 at their residence in Barangay Liwan West.

The operation was led by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDEU) in coordination with the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (PPO), Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15, Regional Intelligence Unit-14, and PDEA-CAR.

Meanwhile, a buy-bust operation in Barangay Magsaysay, Tabuk City led to the arrest of two men aged 35 and 38, identified as an HVI and a Street Level Individual.

Authorities seized seven sachets of suspected shabu weighing eight grams with an SDP of ₱54,400.

The operation was carried out by personnel from the Tabuk City Police Station, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, Provincial Intelligence Unit, RMFB15, RID PRO CAR, and PDEA-CAR.

Aside from illegal drugs, authorities also recovered various firearms of different calibers, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and documents from the suspects.

All arrested individuals and seized evidence were turned over to the respective lead operating units for proper documentation and disposition.

The suspects will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while those found in possession of firearms will also face charges under Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act.

On the same day, PRO CAR units conducted a marijuana eradication operation in Barangay Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet, where authorities discovered a plantation containing 1,800 fully grown marijuana plants valued at ₱360,000.

The plants were immediately uprooted and destroyed by operatives from the Bakun Municipal Police Station, Benguet PPO, RID PRO CAR, RIU-14, and PDEA-CAR.

Earlier, on December 17, another marijuana plantation with 6,000 fully grown plants worth ₱1.2 million was uncovered and destroyed in Barangay Butbut Proper, Tinglayan, Kalinga through a joint operation of the 2nd Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company, Tinglayan Municipal Police Station, Kalinga PPO, and PDEA-CAR.

PRO CAR said intensified operations and investigations are ongoing to locate additional marijuana plantations and identify individuals involved in illegal drug activities across the Cordillera region.