LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Authorities swooped down on marijuana plantations in Benguet and Ifugao netting at least P6.8-million worth of the illegal plant.
At least 23,400 fully grown marijuana plants and five kilos of seeds went up in smoke after joint teams of Benguet Provincial Public Safety Company, Provincial Anti-illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group, PNP Air Unit- Special Action Force and the Kibungan town police raided the plantations in barangays Tacadang and Badeo in Kibungan and barangay Kayapa in Bakun.
The haul was discovered, Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong said, in at least 11 different plantations totaling to 3,900 square meters.
In Ifugao, Tinoc town police torched 10,400 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants in sitio Puwal, barangay Tulludan, Tinoc.
The illegal plants were found in three different sites with a total area of some 2,600 square meters.
Magalong ordered policemen to further investigate who the cultivators are.
Since January this year, a total of P180.84-million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed in the highland region.