|
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
465 kilos of marijuana seized from 5 'dealers'
By Harley Palangchao
BAGUIO -- Marijuana bricks weighing a total of 465 kilos and with an illicit value of around P9.2 million were confiscated by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation in the Cordilleras early Tuesday morning.
Supt. Edgardo Perez, PDEA regional director, said five suspected marijuana dealers were also arrested during the operation along the stretch of the Halsema Highway in Acop, Tublay, Benguet.
Police identified them as Loreto Gorio, 31, farmer; Dionisio Pacateo, 46, driver; Teofilo Paclos, 29; Salve Paclos, 39; and Elmer Paclos, 49, all natives of Kapangan, Benguet.
"But they're not considered as big-time dealers," Perez said.
Perez told reporters the seized marijuana bricks, which were supposed to be delivered to a Manila-based buyer, was the biggest haul made by anti-narcotic agents since the start of this year.
Prior to the incident, Perez said PDEA-CAR agents conducted a test buy on February 17 in Kapangan where they bought some 197 kilos of marijuana bricks. The test buy has encouraged the suspects to deliver an additional 268 kilos of marijuana bricks using a passenger jeepney and which was intercepted along Acop, Benguet.
"Those arrested were subject of a long-time surveillance because we received information that they have started packing marijuana bricks since September last year," Perez said.
He added that the seized marijuana is just half of the volume of the prohibited plant packed by the suspects.
Records showed the suspects were from remote areas in Kapangan, where narcotics officials said marijuana plantation proliferates since it is difficult to reach the places.
Late last year, Kapangan Mayor Rogelio Leon expressed apprehension over reports that school children are paid P50 per day to help in packing and transporting marijuana to Manila-based buyers.
Early this year, a PDEA official admitted that the Cordillera Administrative Region is still the number one source of marijuana and its derivatives and is supplying at least 70 percent of the total produce in the Philippines.
The bulk of the marijuana supply is clandestinely shipped from the mountainous areas of Ifugao, Benguet, Kalinga and Mt. Province. Sun.Star Baguio
(February 19, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Saddam may resort to 'human shields' in war