Over P2.1-M marijuana burned at Melvin Jones

Over P2.1 million worth of marijuana bricks and plants were burned by ranking officers of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Melvin Jones on Friday morning. 

The burning of 85,960 grams of marijuana dried leaves and 50 marijuana plants highlighted the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. 

C/Insp. Edgar Apalla, PDEA officer-in-charge, said the burned contraband including assorted drug paraphernalia were seized in nine various operations carried out by his office in cooperation with the other law enforcement agencies in the region.

Bulk of the destroyed contraband or 25,960 grams of marijuana leaves were seized by elements of Precinct 2 of the Baguio City Police Office in Barangay Camdas last Feb. 12. 

The 21,000 grams of marijuana were seized by the Kapangan police in Barangay Beling-Belis, Kapangan, Benguet last June 13 along with another 20,000 grams in Barangay Paykek, also in Kapangan recently. 

The Kapangan police likewise intercepted 3,000 grams of marijuana also in Paykek last March 15. 

The other 10,000 grams of marijuana leaves were seized by joint PDEA agents and Kalinga police while the additional 3,000 grams were seized by the La Trinidad police in Barangay Pico last Dec. 7. 

The remaining 3,000 grams were seized by PDEA agents in Santol, La Union last year. 

The 50 dried marijuana plants are samples of the 552,700 fully grown marijuana plants that were uprooted in Kapangan and Kibungan by joint PDEA, CIDG agents headed by S/Supt. Cedrick Train, and the Benguet police during its eradication campaign from Jan. 29 to 31.