CORDILLERA Police Regional Office director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo Jr. yesterday announced the arrest of two notorious drug suspects in the region and the confiscation of nearly P6 million worth of shabu and marijuana crops following separate operations on Thursday.

The official said that one of the suspects described as a 44-year-old carwash boy was arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Bgy. Bulanao in Tabuk City, Kalinga province, which resulted in the recovery of six plastic sachets containing around 7.7 grams of shabu valued at P52,360.

A similar raid in Bgy. Bulanao Norte led to the arrest of a 53-year-old farmer whose house yielded 24 plastic sachets containing approximately 2.6 grams of the “poor man’s cocaine” valued at P17,680.

Peredo said his men also uprooted more than 10,000 pieces of fully-grown cannabis plants and seedlings worth at least P2.1 million in Bgy. Ngibat in Tinglayan, Kalinga on the same day.

Cordillera policemen also stormed huge marijuana plantation sites in the municipalities of Kibungan and Bakun in Benguet province, where they pulled out nearly P3.7 million worth of cannabis crops.

The marijuana plants were found growing in barangays Tacadang and Poblacion in Kibungan and in Bgy. Kayapa in Bakun.

All uprooted cannabis plants were burned on site after some samples were taken for evidentiary purpose.

Peredo said he has ordered his men to continue their search-and-destroy operations on all identified marijuana plantation sites in the region and apprehend the cultivators.

The official also stressed the importance of proactive measures to prevent marijuana cultivation and advocated for enhanced surveillance, active community involvement, and educational initiatives to inform the public about the risks and legal consequences associated with growing and using cannabis.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon