11 drug suspects nabbed in Cordillera

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Eleven drug personalities were arrested while more than P387 million worth of illegal drugs were seized and destroyed by police operatives and anti-narcotics agents in 12 separate operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region from May 6-12, 2024.

Police said the apprehended suspects were found in possession of a combined total of 323.65 grams of suspected shabu and 55 ml of marijuana oil with a standard drug price of P2,203,570.

From the 12 operations, the Baguio City Police Office arrested four drug personalities, followed by Kalinga Police Provincial Office with three arrests while Abra, Apayao, Benguet, and Mountain Province has one arrested suspect each.

Among the arrested suspects, seven were identified as streel-level individuals and four were identified as high-value individuals, all of whom will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Moreover, the series of marijuana eradication operations conducted in the provinces of Benguet and Kalinga resulted in the discovery of 1,692,360 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants, 391,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops, and 1,200 pieces of marijuana seedlings with an overall standard drug price of P385,440,000.00.

All confiscated marijuana plants were burned following proper documentation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to locate other marijuana plantation sites and apprehend the owners and cultivators.

Additionally, the police continue to conduct barangay visitations and informational campaigns to bolster anti-illegal drugs efforts.