SADANGA, Mountain Province – Two tourists from Manila were arrested after were caught with more than P3 million worth of dried marijuana in a police checkpoint in Sitio Ampawelin, Poblacion, this town, Friday.
Police Regional Office-Cordillera chief Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee identified the suspects as Louigie Erguiza Param and Bernard Hope Poyaoan Bravo II, both 22-years-old and residents of Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Lee said that prior to their arrest, the Sadanga Municipal Police Station received a tip about marijuana bricks being transported from Kalinga.
Immediately, coordination was made with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Mountain Province and nearby police units for the establishment of a checkpoint in Sitio Ampawilen where they flagged down a black Toyota sedan.
The operation led to the arrest of the suspects who yielded 30 bricks of marijuana and one in tubular form with a total weight of 30.75 kilos worth around P3,609,000.
The suspects underwent drug testing at the Regional Crime Laboratory Office and will be brought to the Sadanga MPS. They will be charged with violation of the Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, police said.