Marijuana plantations discovered in Benguet

La Trinidad, Benguet – Joint police, Philippine Army and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives swooped down on marijuana plantations in Benguet province this week netting P31 million of the would be “drug market” several months from now.

Found in at least 36 sites totaled by authorities to reach 22 hectares were some 150,320 fully grown hemp and 36,610 seedlings.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin placed the government haul to reach P31,528,400.

The marijuana plantations were found in barangays Badeo and Takadang in Kibungan town and Barangay Kayapa in Bakun town, both in Benguet during a three day operation by joint forces from the PDEA-CAR, Benguet police, Phil. Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group 1, 503rd Infantry Brigade and local Bakun and Kibungan town’s policemen.

Torching it on Friday afternoon at Camp Dangwa, the Cordillera police command’s headquarters, authorities vowed they will continue flushing out marijuana plantations in Benguet and elsewhere.

In October, authorities seized a truckload of marijuana bricks weighing at least a ton along the Halsema Highway in Benguet.