Marijuana bricks seized in Kalinga

MANILA, Philippines - Some P825,000 worth of marijuana bricks were seized from a passenger bus by police at a checkpoint along the Locnog Highway in Tabuk, Kalinga Thursday.

Reports reaching Camp Crame said policemen led by Inspector Dennis Bautista and belonging to the 3rd Provincial Regional Mobile Group based in Talaca, Kalinga confiscated the 33 marijuana bricks that were hidden inside two cardboard boxes.

Police investigation showed that the marijuana bricks were allegedly loaded by unidentified persons along the Locnog Highway at the baggage compartment of the Manila-bound Victory Liner Bus with body number 2125 (with license plates CWV-917).

The contraband is addressed to a certain Maria Nessie Espenie of Sampaloc, Manila, police said.

Police are still conducting a follow-up investigation for the possible identification of sources and arrest of persons involved in the shipping of the marijuana bricks in violation of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. 

These were later turned-over to the PNP Crime Laboratory for proper disposition.

Region 1 Police Director, Chief Superintendent Orlando Pestaño said the seizure of the marijuana bricks is the result of their ongoing operations to block the shipment of marijuana grown in the region to Manila.   – Mike Frialde