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Wednesday, February 25, 2004
DavSur marijuana being exported to Indonesia
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Enterprising businessmen reportedly exported several kilos of dried marijuana plants from Davao del Sur to nearby Indonesia.
Senior Supt. Navaja, provincial director of the Davao del Sur Police Office, made the disclosure Tuesday.
Navaja said many of the arrested marijuana users admitted that the quality of marijuana (cannabis sativa) planted in Davao del Sur is excellent and is in demand by users from as far as Indonesia.
"Yes, according to some users our marijuana here is of export quality," he said.
Navaja said they arrested some exporters who made use of the vast shoreline of Davao del Sur as their jump-off point to other countries.
Navaja said because of this discovery, they are strengthening their monitoring on areas suspected to be part of the marijuana trade route in Davao del Sur.
He identified these areas as: Kiblawan, Don Marcelino and Malita. Navaja added that they have also identified marijuana plantations in these areas.
"In Kiblawan alone, we have about 10 hectares of marijuana plantation there worth about P30 million," he said.
Navaja said the "hard terrain of these areas make it almost impossible for the authorities to destroy the said marijuana plantations".
Navaja said the marijuana trade in these areas is flourishing due to the lure of money.
"They are luring the natives to plant more marijuana than corn. Because one sack of corn will only cost P90 while 10 kilos of marijuana is a big amount. Magaan pa," Navaja said.
But he vowed to continue their operations against the illegal drug trade in the province. He said they would also strengthen their saturation and information drive in schools to educate the younger generation of the ills the illegal drugs would bring.
The Philippines is a major producer and exporter of marijuana. The major areas of production are concentrated in the mountainous regions of northern Luzon and Mindanao. Most of the marijuana produce is either consumed domestically or exported to Australia or Japan.
In 1994, a study in Cebu revealed that cough mixture, marijuana and major and minor tranquillizers were being consumed by drug users. The price of these drugs determines the frequency of drug use.
(February 25, 2004 issue)
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