Police seize P7-M worth of marijuana

Monday, January 30, 2012

MABALACAT -- The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) neutralized a big-time drug syndicate following the arrest of three women who ferried P7 million worth of marijuana from Benguet to Barangay Dau in this town.

Catherine Sangdaan Lamog, 44, of Bontoc, Mountain Province, and two other suspects were arrested at a food chain in Barangay Dau at noon Sunday.

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Lamog is the leader of the Kamot (Cathy) Group operating in Cordillera Administrative Region, some parts of Northern Luzon, Angeles City, Pampanga, Metro Manila and Cavite City.

Police identified Lamog's companions as Julie Faruden Baggas, 37, of Bontoc, Mountain province, and Yolanda Bocad Adaol, 42, of Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga.

The suspects were nabbed during an entrapment operation conducted by Angeles City CIDG headed by Chief Inspector Julius Caesar Mana, in coordination with the CIDG in Cordillera.

Senior Superintendent Rudy Lacadin, CIDG Central Luzon director, said the confiscated drugs include 164 bricks of dried marijuana leaves weighing 154.4 kilograms worth P6,946,470; and 15 pieces of hashish brown flakes weighing 1.5 kilograms worth P362,500.

Lacadin said they filed drug pushing, drug possession, and other violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165) against the suspects who are now detained at the CIDG quarters in Angeles City.

Mana said the suspects transported the drugs through a passenger bus.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan commended Lacadin, Mana and the CIDG personnel for the arrest of the suspects.

Pamintuan described the operation as "purely intelligence work" that resulted in a big accomplishment.

"Napakalaking bagay ang nagsasama ang mga opisyales ng local na pamahalaan at Philippine National Police (PNP) at military," Pamintuan said.

The mayor vowed to continue his support to all units of the PNP in order to prevent crimes and neutralize organized crime groups.

He said the City Government will reward and award CIDG officials and personnel who participated in the operation.

The confiscated marijuana leaves were taken to the Angeles City Crime Laboratory headed by Superintendent Maria Luisa Gundran David.

Hashish is a resin extract or the concentrated product of marijuana, said Lacadin.