P20-M marijuana seized in Tabuk checkpoint

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Police seized dried marijuana bricks and leaves worth P19.9 million in a checkpoint in Barangay Calanan, here, on Monday, October 23.

Lawmen in this city received a report from the Lubuagan, Kalinga police station that a Toyota Hiace van evaded a Commission on Elections checkpoint in Barangay Dinakan, Lubuagan.

Police set up a checkpoint and arrested the driver of the van, Benjamin Fajardo Bauto, of Barangay Concepcion, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

Police Capt. Ruff Manganip, Kalinga Police Provincial Office spokesperson, said Bauto was high-value target of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Seized from Bauto were 156 dried marijuana bricks weighing one kilo each valued at P18.720 million and 20 tubular dried marijuana leaves weighing 500 grams worth  P1.2 million.

Manganip said the suspect and contraband are under police custody. Bauto faces a drug-related case.