Cagayan De Oro City — Police operatives raided and uprooted P265,000 worth of marijuana plantation discreetly located near a tourism center along the National Sayre Highway Purok 9, Barangay Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon, police reported Wednesday, 3 November.

Police Major Dominador Orate Jr., Officer in Charge of the Impasugong Municipal station, reported that Personnel of Impasugong Municipal police, together with Buk PIU 10, RDEU 10, Buk PDEU 10, and Buk 1st PMFC 10, conducted an Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation and successfully uprooted the alleged marijuana plants after a tip from an informant.

Two suspects, aged 40 and 32, were identified but eluded arrest during the operation.

The total weight of alleged marijuana dry leaves was 2,000 grams, 122 hills of alleged fully grown marijuana, 35 pieces of alleged marijuana seedlings, and one container of alleged marijuana seeds weighing 10 grams. One-unit improvised air gun, and one-piece water container with an overall total of P265,350.00.

Cases for violation of Section 16 of RA 9165 (Cultivation or culture of plants classified as dangerous Drugs) were prepared for filing before the office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

All uprooted alleged marijuana is now under the custody of Impasugong MPS for proper disposition, while the confiscated drug evidence was brought to the Provincial Forensic Unit, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, for qualitative and

According to DAILY TRIBUNE's source, the marijuana plants were planted along a creek near the national highway and were concealed due to banana and bamboo plants in the area near the Tourism Center along the National Sayre Highway.

The source, said the live-in partner of one of the suspects, was subject to physical abuse, and reported the illegal activities in the area, which triggered the police raid.