A FOUR-DAY aggressive marijuana operation in Benguet Province led to the eradication and destruction of a marijuana plants amounting to P7,078,200.
Eleven plantation sites were discovered with a land area of 260 square meters planted with 526 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants including the discovery of 23 kilos of dried marijuana with a Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) value of P2,864,200.
In another operation, P3,212,000 worth of marijuana plants were destroyed in Tubongan, Kayapa, Bakun, and in Gotgoto, Beleng Belis, Kapangan on January 9 where 16,060 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants were uprooted from a 1,770 square meters plantation.
Another P378,000 worth of marijuana plants was eradicated in Namalilian, Kayapa, Bakun on January 8, 2020 where 890 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants were discovered in a 700 square meters plantation.
Another marijuana eradication operation at Dupinas, Palina, Kibungan January 3 led to the discovery of P624,000 worth of fully grown marijuana plants and stalks.
Despite the several marijuana eradication operations, no cultivator was arrested while all the contraband were burned on site with a minimal number of eradicated marijuana plants to be used by operatives for evidentiary purposes.
These operations were undertaken by joint operating troops of Kibungan, Kapangan, and Bakun Municipal Police Stations, Investigation and Drug Enforcement personnel of Benguet Provincial Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera.
Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, Police Regional Office – Cordillera (PRO-COR) director reiterated his call to the community and local government units to help in the national anti-drug campaign.
“PRO–COR alone cannot accomplish the huge task of effectively curbing the drug menace, but with the citizen’s support, together we become strong allies in our battle against illegal drugs,” Dickson said.