A team composed of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Benguet, National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera, Tuba police, and the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera have located the source of marijuana that have been confiscated by anti-drug personnel in a buy-bust operation on March 20.
The plantation, located at the mountains of Sitio Sangilo, Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet was pinpointed by one of the arrested sellers as source of the contraband.
It took a three-hour trek to the mountains last March 22, before the team reached the site.
Estimated to cost around P72 million, the team confiscated around 600 kilos dried marijuana with stalks and fruiting tops bundled in 12 oversized sacks and covered with plastic sheet.
The source said the cultivators are from Kibungan, Benguet. The team has identified four cultivators but withheld their identities.
The property owner, who assured he will cooperate with authorities for the prosecution of the case, said the cultivators rented the property but was not aware that marijuana will be planted there.
A complaint for violation of Section 16, which prohibits cultivation or culture of plants classified as dangerous drug, of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act is being readied against the suspects.
The drug items were turned over to the PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Bado Dangwa. – Press release
