PDEA: P4.8 M worth of dried marijuana leaves seized in Benguet buy-bust
By Chito Chavez
Government anti-narcotic authorities seized on Saturday, Feb. 14, around P4.8 million worth of dried marijuana leaves during a buy-bust operation in Kapangan, Benguet, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
However, the PDEA admitted that the two suspects escaped after realizing that they were dealing with anti-drug operatives.
The PDEA-Cordillera Regional Special Enforcement Team (PDEA-CAR RSET), the PDEA Baguio City/Benguet Provincial Office and the Kapangan Municipal Police Station are conducting the manhunt for the suspects.
In the aftermath of the operation in Barangay Sagubo, the PDEA noted that the suspects left behind 40 tubular packages weighing approximately 40 kilograms.
The suspects face charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals), Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”