POLICE are now looking at possible production of kush, a high-grade imported form of illegal drugs more potent and lethal than locally grown marijuana, in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Police General Debold Sinas, in his recent visit to the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR) at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet, said despite the presence of kush, statistics by the Philippine National Police showed marijuana is still the leading drugs seized by police.
“We are checking if kush is being locally grown in the Cordillera Region, but so far from how we see it, we still have locally grown marijuana. Currently, based on our statistics and assessment, we have observed bigger shipments of marijuana bricks being transferred from here in the Cordillera to Metro Manila as compared to recent years. These are not only coming from the mountains but are now being seized in community centers,” Sinas said.
In its campaign against illegal drugs in 2020, PRO-COR arrested 423 drug personalities and seized more than P70 million worth of illegal drugs in various anti-illegal drugs operation.
Sinas lauded the continuous campaign of PRO-COR on illegal drugs particularly on marijuana and shabu, which resulted in the uprooting and destruction of P516 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings. A total of 433 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted regionwide.
“PRO-COR’s campaign on illegal drugs is considered excellent, which is being followed by our police organization nationwide through our endorsement. We congratulate Police Brigadier R’win Pagkalinawan and PRO-COR on their campaign against illegal drugs,” Sinas added.
Of the 423 drug suspects arrested, 345 persons were drug users and 78 were drug pushers, while 303 cases were filed in court. Among the arrested drug suspects, 170 were high-value individuals (HVI).
Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO) had the most number of arrests with 137 individuals, followed by Baguio City Police Office with 131 arrests, Kalinga PPO with 92 apprehensions, Abra PPO with 32, Mountain Province PPO with 21, Apayao PPO with 7, and Ifugao PPO with 3 arrested persons.
Some P70,656,557 worth of assorted illegal drugs were seized, confiscated and recovered during various police operations.