Over P14M worth of marijuana destroyed in Benguet

MANILA, Philippines -Authorities destroyed more than  P14-million worth of marijuana during a three-day operation in Benguet, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Tuesday.

The PDEA said that its operatives and the Philippine National Police personnel conducted an eradication operation from April 8 to April 10 in 21 marijuana cultivation sites found in Sitios Leyeng, Bagiw, Gingaw, Bitu and Lingey in Barangay Tacadang, and Sitios Balbalnag, Teb-teb, Batuan, Tataan and Lucoc in Barangay Badeo, all in Kibungan, Benguet.

The operation covered an estimated total land area of 8,660 square meters, the PDEA added.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said that the operation dubbed OPLAN: “Golden Green Bush” resulted in the destruction of 69,250 fully-grown marijuana plants, 2,000 marijuana seedlings, 3,000 grams of marijuana seeds and 9,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with a total worth of P14.68 million  based on the value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Meanwhile, in Cebu, last April 11, operatives of PDEA Regional Office 7 ,in collaboration with a team from the 303rd Air Intelligence and Security Group, Philippine Air Force uprooted 18,000 fully-grown marijuana plants in Barangay Bayong, Balamban, Cebu.

Authorities also cleared 30 illegal hemp cultivation sites in the area.

The estimated total land area of the marijuana plantation sites destroyed is more or less three hectares, with each location having an area between 300 square meters and a hectare.