Authorities destroy P6.9-M worth of marijuana plants in Ilocos Sur
SUGPON, Ilocos Sur – Joint operatives from the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have destroyed P6.928-million worth of fully grown marijuana plants in the mountainous area of Sitio Sawangan, Barangay Danac, here, according to Police Capt. Rovic R. Nelmida.
The plantation sites were located in the boundaries of Ilocos Sur, Benguet, and La Union.
Nelmida, who led the marijuana eradication operation, said on Wednesday, April 26, that the marijuana plants were discovered and uprooted during their two-day operation from April 22 to 23.
Authorities uprooted 28,820 fully grown marijuana plants and 360 marijuana seedlings and recovered 10 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves from the nine plantation sites with a total land area of 4,300-square meters.
Based on the standard set by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB), the total estimated worth of the destroyed marijuana plants is P6,928,400.
Nelmida said that a manhunt operation is ongoing for the two suspected cultivators identified by their assets. The police withheld the identities of the suspected cultivators pending their arrest.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a Grade 11 student of the Suyo National High School in Suyo, Ilocos Sur after one gram of dried marijuana leaves worth P120 was found in his possession.
Suyo chief of police Police Capt. Godofredo Ribuyao confirmed the incident and only identified the suspect student as “Christian,” a resident of Barangay Uso, Suyo.