TROOPS of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 (MBLT-7) have uncovered a P3.6 million marijuana plantation while on combat operation in the province of Sulu, a top military official said Saturday, October 26.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the plantation was discovered Wednesday in Masjid Punjungan Village, Kalingalan Caluang, Sulu.

Sobejana said the marijuana plantation is about 1,800 square meters and is located within the residential area of Adzhar Jumaidim Mundoc.

He said troops of the MBLT-7’s 37th Marine Company has cordoned the area and subsequently coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Sulu and village officials of Masjid Punjungan to determine the owner of the plantation.

He said the peace efforts of Westmincom do not only focus on ending terrorism but as well as addressing its root causes, which include the campaign against illegal drugs.

Sobejana lauded the MBLT-7 troops for their effort that led to the discovery of the plantation. (SunStar Zamboanga)