SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – A drone helped the National Bureau of Investigation (PDEA) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) discover 15 marijuana plantations in Sitio Bana, Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet on Wednesday, January 10.
NBI-Cordillera Director Eleanor Rachel M. Angeles said that their agents confirmed the exact location of the plantations with the drone upon receiving a report from their asset.
These plantations were concealed by the rugged terrain and vegetated hillsides in the area located near the tri-boundaries of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Benguet.
Authorities destroyed a total of 40,500 fully-grown marijuana plants worth P8.1 million based on the standard set by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB).
Nobody was arrested during the eradication operation but a follow-up investigation to find out the identity of the cultivator is ongoing.