PRO CORDILLERA COPS NETS P20.6-M MARIJUANA IN A DAY OPS
PRO Cordillera cops have arrested a drug personality and seized a total of PhP20,600,000.00 worth of marijuana in a separate anti-illegal drugs operation conducted in the provinces of Kalinga and Benguet on October 23, 2023.
In Kalinga, joint anti-illegal drugs operatives of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, Regional Intelligence Division, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation after an individual on board his vehicle evaded the checkpoint established at Sitio Dinakan, Brgy. Dangoy, Lubuagan, Kalinga.
The said operatives collared the suspect, who was identified as Benjamin Fajardo Bauto, in Brgy. Callanan, Tabuk City. The suspect was arrested after operatives found 156 kilograms of marijuana bricks and 10 kilograms of vacuum-sealed tubes of marijuana leaves and stalk with a total Standard Drug (SDP) of PhP19,920,000.00 loaded in his vehicle.
The suspect and seized pieces of evidence were brought to Tabuk City Police Station for documentation and proper disposition, while charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being filed against the suspect.
Meanwhile, in Benguet, a total of 400 Fully Grown Marijuana Plants and 5 kilograms of dried Marijuana Stalks with fruiting tops with an overall SDP of Php 680,000.00 were discovered and burned at Sitio Mocgao, Kibungan, Benguet.
According to the Kibungan Municipal Police Station, two marijuana plantation sites were found in the area. After documentation, all discovered marijuana plants were uprooted and burned on-site while investigations were ongoing to identify possible cultivators of the marijuana plants. (PRO CORDILLERA-PIO / File Photos)
