Man, son held for 300 kilos of marijuana

MANILA, Philippines - A man and his son were arrested for transporting 300 kilos of marijuana leaves with a street value of  P2 million in a van along the North Luzon Expressway’s Balintawak exit in Quezon City yesterday morning.

The van’s driver, Moises Simsim, 37, and his son were held at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters, CIDG director Chief Superintendent Victor Deona said.

Deona said the marijuana shipment was seized from a Hi-Ace Grandia commuter van at around 8:30 a.m.

Acting on a tip from an informant, Deona said members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Central Luzon unit and Meycauayan police force tailed the van from La Trinidad, Benguet to Barangay Bagong Sigaw in Balintawak, Quezon City.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento lauded the CIDG team led by Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, HPG and the Meycauayan police station for the successful anti-drug operation.

Deona said they were investigating the scope of the suspects’ operation and their possible connection to a drug ring in Metro Manila for the distribution of the marijuana.

“We are checking their contacts in Metro Manila,” Deona said.

Simsim told police that he was hired to transport the marijuana to Metro Manila for P15,000.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against the suspects.