Cops destroy over P11M worth of marijuana in Benguet

BAGUIO CITY — Police destroyed more than P11 million worth of marijuana plants and dried marijuana products following a one-day eradication operation in three areas of Benguet, authorities said.

The Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region reported that the combined street value of the confiscated fully grown marijuana plants and dried marijuana leaves reached P11,005,000.

In the municipality of Kibungan, anti-illegal drugs operatives discovered 11 marijuana plantation sites across Barangays Tacadang and Badeo. The sites yielded 23,325 fully grown marijuana plants and 45,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops, with an estimated standard drug price of P10,065,000.

Parallel operations were also conducted in Barangay Gadang in Kapangan and Barangay Kayapa in Bakun, where operatives found 500 fully grown marijuana plants and 7,000 grams of dried marijuana stalks with fruiting tops. These were valued at P940,000.

The operations were carried out through the joint efforts of the Kibungan, Kapangan, and Bakun municipal police stations, along with various units of the Benguet Provincial Police Office and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15. Personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Cordillera and regional intelligence units also participated.

All discovered marijuana plants and products were uprooted and burned on-site after proper documentation. Police said follow-up operations are underway to locate additional plantation sites in nearby areas and to identify individuals responsible for the cultivation.