TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Police seized dried marijuana bricks valued at more than P23 million from three suspected drug couriers in an interdiction operation in Purok 5, Barangay Bulanao, this city, on Friday, September 27.
DRIED marijuana bricks worth P23 million were seized in an interdiction operation in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Friday, September 27.
The suspects were identified as newly identified drug personalities Paul Andrei Galvez, 29, of Malolos City, Bulacan; Kennedy Mensah, 21, of Guiguinto, Bulacan and Barangay Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga, and Francis Baydon, 25, of Buscalan.
Police Regional Office-Cordillera chief Police Brig. Gen. David Peredo Jr. said they immediately conducted the operation after receiving information from a police unit that a vehicle was transporting marijuana bricks from Tinglayan accompanied by two motorcycles.
“The three suspects were arrested through an interdiction conducted by police personnel from different units in the province with the agents from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Kalinga to ensure the targets will not leave the city with the contraband,” said Police Capt. Ruff Manganip, spokesperson of the Kalinga police.
Recovered from the suspects were 192 dried marijuana bricks wrapped in transparent plastic weighing a kilo each or a total of 192 kilos with a standard drug price of P23 million, a Haima multi-purpose vehicle, two black motorcycles, cellphones, and one small transparent cellophane containing pulverized and powdered dried marijuana leaves weighing more or less five grams valued at P600.
Police Col. Gilbert A. Fati-ig, Kalinga police director, commended operatives for a successful operation.
An on-site inventory was conducted in the presence of the suspects and witnessed by a Department of Justice representative, media representative, and two barangay kagawads.
“The three suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, specifically the provision on the illegal transport of prohibited drugs,” said Fati-ig.