Marijuana plantation discovered in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Military authorities stumbled on a marijuana plantation in Maimbung, Sulu last Thursday while conducting hot pursuit operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Task Force Group Sulu Commander Alan Arrojado said soldiers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 (MBLT-2) found two lots measuring 700 square meters planted with marijuana at Sitio Kabugan, Barangay Patao in Maimbung, Sulu.

The soldiers were hot on the tracks of the bandits who who held hostage two German national and released them recently after payment 250 million in ransom.

At least 130 marijuana plants, measuring two to five feet in height with an estimated value of 500,000 were uprooted and turned over to the police.

Authorities in the municipality said the Abu Sayyaf maintained the plantation since most of them are reportedly drug dependents.

The Marines also recovered other drug paraphernalia at the plantation site. (Nonoy E. Lacson)