Authorities destroy P2.33M marijuana plants

Authorities destroyed more than 14,000 marijuana plants and seedlings valued at an estimated P2.33 million during a two-day eradication operation in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur and Kibungan, Benguet.

The operation began at 5 a.m. on September 8 and ended at 10:20 p.m. on September 9.

Personnel of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit led the operation, with support from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1, 103rd Maneuver Company, 1st and 2nd Ilocos Sur Provincial Mobile Force Companies, the Ilocos Sur Provincial Intelligence and Detection Management Unit–KIMAT, and Sugpon Municipal Police Station.

Authorities discovered seven marijuana plantation sites covering a combined estimated area of 1,960 square meters. The sites contained about 3,000 marijuana seedlings and 11,050 fully grown marijuana plants.

The largest plantation covered about 800 square meters and contained an estimated 4,000 fully grown marijuana plants, with a standard drug price of P800,000. Another site covering 450 square meters yielded about 2,700 plants valued at P540,000.

Personnel uprooted and burned the marijuana plants at the sites after conducting documentation and inventory procedures. Representative samples were collected for laboratory examination.

No cultivators were arrested during the operation.