NBI nabs farmer with 15 marijuana bricks

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced yesterday the arrest of an Ifugao farmer who yielded 15 bricks of marijuana leaves during a buy-bust operation at a bus terminal in Manila.

NBI officer-in-charge Nestor Mantaring said they have filed charges against 26-year-old Elson Langpaw, a native of Wangwang, Tinoc, Ifugao province.

The suspect has been selling marijuana for about two years.

NBI agents are now conducting a follow-up operation in Benguet, Ifugao and Mt. Province to dismantle the marijuana plantations.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala, NBI-NCR chief, said the joint NBI-Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operation that led to the arrest of Langpaw was a product of a month-long surveillance.

Several weeks ago, the NBI arranged a buy-bust at the Florida Bus terminal on Earnshaw in Sampaloc. Marijuana bricks worth P65,000 had been placed inside a sack stuffed with newspapers, potatoes and carrots to avoid detection at checkpoints set up by the military and the police.

Langpaw was arrested when he showed an agent the contents of the sack.

Lasala admitted that marijuana plantations are difficult to dismantle because they enjoy the protection of communist rebels.

"The presence of armed groups and the New People’s Army, which receive protection money from marijuana planters, the dangerous geographical terrain and limited operational resources, are the challenges faced by government agents in the anti-drug campaign there," he said.

He pointed out that plantation areas are mostly located near cliffs.

"One has to endure a three-hour walk to reach the place. In order to locate it, one has to use a helicopter," the NBI-NCR chief said.

Potent treats

Lasala said the marijuana grown in the Philippines is more potent than those from other marijuana-producing countries.

As a result, many dealers have established clientele abroad. They reportedly export the illegal drug to Japan, Australia and the US.

Special Investigator Federico Criste said the use of marijuana has evolved into other by-products.

"Hashish oil, which is extracted from leaves, is used to make cookies, cakes and brownies. These are sold in Mt. Province and brought down to Subic and Olongapo," Criste said.

Foreigners, he said, usually ask marijuana producers to sell them as "special cookies and pastries." These are baked at the plantations and distributed to nearby provinces.

He said that marijuana brownies are not new, but unlike in the past wherein crushed leaves are simply mixed with the batter, the new version involves a more intricate process.

Producers squeeze the juice from the leaves to produce a higher concentration. The juice is then turned into hashish oil and used in the baking process.

Criste said that these products are often sold to a "select market" for a hefty amount.

The NBI said it would soon be coordinating with other government agencies such as the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

"A few years ago, we tried to extract a specimen. To make a high grade 100 ml of hashish oil, we had to use five to 10 kilos of marijuana," NBI Forensic Chemist 3 Aida Magsipoc said.

The NBI said a quart of hashish oil is worth P3,000.