P210-B ‘grass’ netted in CAR

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — There has been no let-up in the drive against marijuana cultivation in the Cordilleras, with a staggering P210 billion worth of the illegal plant (cannabis sativa) netted since January this year.

In a five-day eradication campaign early this week, combined police teams from Kalinga and Mt. Province and the Regional Mobile Group overran vast marijuana plantations in the two provinces, hauling some P117.6 million worth of marijuana plants and semi-processed by-products.

Chief Superintendent George Aliño, Cordillera police director, believes that the sustained drive has dealt a big blow to syndicates involved in the marijuana trade.

The Cordilleras remains to be the country’s biggest source of marijuana which thrives in its cold climate. Marijuana farms are often found in remote, mountainous areas, often rendering authorities helpless in reaching them due to the harsh and rugged terrain.

Seized in separate but coordinated operations, according to Senior Superintendent John Solive, chief of the Cordillera Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, were some 436,000 fully grown marijuana plants, 344,000 seedlings, 30 kilos of dried marijuana leaves, three kilos of seeds and five sacks of hashish.

These were confiscated from marijuana farms, totaling 41 hectares, at the boundary of Kalinga and Mt. Province, particularly on Mounts Chalanap, Chumanchil, Cayafu and Bitolayongan.

Two weeks ago, police swooped down on plantations, totaling seven hectares, in Bakun and Kibungan towns, both in Benguet, and seized P156 million worth of marijuana plants.