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Monday, October 13, 2003
2 persons nabbed with 247 kilos of marijuana
By Harley F. Palangchao
CAMP DANGWA, Benguet -- Two persons were arrested Saturday afternoon at a police checkpoint along Abatan, Buguias, for allegedly having 247 kilos of marijuana leaves inside their vehicle, police said Sunday.
A report from the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordilleras identified the two as Avelino Palasi and Lorenzo Laoyan.
They are now in the custody of the Buguias Municipal Police and are being questioned.
The report added the policemen manning the checkpoint in Abatan flagged down a Besta van with plate number UFN 618 driven by Palasi for a routine check when they discovered the contraband worth around P10 million inside the vehicle.
Police are still determining where the prohibited plant came from.
The arrest of the two came after the Benguet Provincial Police Office set up police checkpoints along the Halsema Highway following the daring Lepanto gold bar heist last Sept. 20.
The seven bonnet-wearing armed men also peppered with bullets five Lepanto personnel, including a young engineer, who were then transporting the gold bars worth around P12 million from the refinery to the firm's general office.
The setting up of checkpoints was also in compliance with an earlier order of PRO Director Chief Supt. Victor Luga to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and criminal elements.
Cordillera police reported they had already neutralized 155 of the 238 persons in their drug watch list. Most of the suspected drug personalities were arrested in Abra, reportedly the most drug-affected province in the region.
The remaining 83 drug personalities are to be neutralized before the end of this year, police said.Sun.Star Baguio
(October 13, 2003 issue)
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