Authorities destroyed nearly P2 million worth of marijuana plants after discovering five plantation sites in mountainous areas along the Ilocos Sur-Benguet boundary during anti-drug operations conducted from 30 to 31 May.
The Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1) reported that a total of 9,820 fully grown marijuana plants, with an estimated value of P1.96 million, were uprooted and destroyed in separate eradication operations in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur.
The largest plantation was discovered on 30 May in Sitio Lococ, located between Barangay Licungan in Sugpon and Barangay Badeo in Kibungan, Benguet. The site covered about 800 square meters and contained around 4,800 fully grown marijuana plants valued at P960,000.
In a follow-up operation that continued until the morning of 31 May, authorities uncovered four additional plantation sites in Barangay Caoayan, Sugpon. These sites, with a combined area of about 890 square meters, yielded an estimated 5,020 fully grown marijuana plants worth P1.004 million.
Police said the marijuana plants were documented, inventoried, assessed and destroyed on site in accordance with standard operating procedures.
No arrests were made during the operations, and authorities have yet to identify the individuals behind the cultivation of the plants. An investigation is ongoing.
