TWO male tourists were collared by anti–narcotic agents in Tabuk City Monday afternoon.

Thirty-seven marijuana dried leaves in bricks and tubular forms with estimated total value of P4,440,000 were confiscated from the duo while on board a passenger bus en route to Tabuk City, Kalinga.

Joining forces for the operation are the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Kalinga, PDEA-Mt. Province, Provincial Intelligence Bureau and Drug Enforcement Unit of Kalinga Provincial Police Office, Police Regional Office–Cordillera Regional Intelligence Unit, 1st Company of the Kalinga Mobile Provincial Force Command, and Tabuk City Police Station.

The suspects were later identified as Jose San Juan Raymundo Jr., 20 –years – old, single; and Kian Cortez, 22, married.

The duo was brought to Kalinga Police Provincial Office for proper disposition.

PDEA said the operation was a product of orchestrated efforts of all law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the area aimed to deny entry and exit of illegal drugs particularly marijuana in Kalinga.

The anti - drug agency further added the operation aims to further strengthen the interoperability between PDEA and other LEAs in conducting anti-drug operations. (SunStar Baguio)