P7-M marijuana seized in Pampanga

ANGELES CITY ,Philippines  – Police operatives seized at least 156 kilos of marijuana and hashish, with a street value of P7 million, in a drug bust in Mabalacat, Pampanga Sunday.

The operation also led to the arrest of three members of the so-called Kamot Gang, reportedly a major dealer of marijuana and hashish in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Cavite.

Superintendent Rudy Lacadin, chief of Central Luzon police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit identified the suspects as Catherine Lamog, 44, reportedly the leader of the syndicate; Julie Bagcas, 37, both of Barangay Mainitin Bontoc, Mt. Province; and Yolanda Adaol, 42, of Loccong, Tinglayan in Kalinga province.     

The three suspects were arrested as soon as they received a bag containing P3,000 placed on top of bundles of cut-out paper from undercover police officers led by Chief Inspector Julieto Culili.

Lacadin said recovered from the suspects were 1.5 kilos of hashish worth P362,500 and 164 bricks of dried marijuana leaves weighing 154.4 kilograms and worth P6,946,470.

The three suspects are under the custody of the Pampanga Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) while charges of illegal possession of prohibited drugs are being readied against them.

CIDG chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said Lamog has pending cases for trafficking of marijuana.

The buy-bust operation was conducted after Pampanga CIDG head Chief Inspector Julius Caesar Mana received information from the CIDG’s Regional Office in Cordillera that Lamog was transporting a large amount of marijuana for distribution in Metro Manila. – Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Non Alquitran