Pubdate: Sat, 19 Feb 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Freddie G. Lazaro
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

POLICE OPERATIVES UPROOT MARIJUANA PLANTS

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Bantay, Ilocos Sur - Police operatives uprooted R6 
million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants with fruiting tops at eight 
plantations at the mountainous areas at sitio Nacneng, barangay Caoayan, 
Sugpon town last Thursday.

The marijuana plantations are located near the tri-boundary of Sugpon in 
Ilocos Sur, and Bacun and Quibungan towns, both in Benguet.

Senior Supt. Mario B. Subagan, Ilocos Sur police director, said the eight 
marijuana plantations have an estimated total area of 2,950 square meters 
planted to 35,200 marijuana plants.

The policemen also destroyed some 1,000 marijuana seedlings and seized 20 
kilos of dried, matured marijuana stalks with buds.

"Based on the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB), the total street value of the 
uprooted marijuana is R6,105,200," Subagan told reporters.

Subagan said that the raiding team sighted eight persons, who were believed 
to be the cultivators of the marijuana plantations, near the plantation 
area but they scampered away when they saw the policemen.

The uprooted marijuana plants were burned at the area in the presence of 
the members of the local media and officials of Sugpon town.

"Only few samples of the uprooted marijuana were brought to provincial 
police office for documentation and disposition," Subagan said.

Earlier this month, some 1,850 fully grown marijuana plants were also 
uprooted by the lawmen in the mountainous areas at the tri-boundary of 
barangay Cadacan, Narvacan town; barangay Cosocos, Nagbukel town; and 
barangay San Isidro in Abra.

Subagan said that the value of the uprooted marijuana plants based on DDB 
standards was placed at R37, 000.

In the early part of January this year, police operatives likewise uprooted 
marijuana plants worth of R55 million during three-day operations at the 
mountainous area of Mt. Nagmey, Mt. Maalatey and sitio Naba, all located in 
Sugpon town.

The police operatives were also seized a high-powered firearm at the house 
of the suspected cultivator of the marijuana.

In Subagan, the Ilocos Sur police director said, the raiding team uprooted 
some 279,000 fully-grown, ready-to-harvest marijuana plants in eight 
plantations with an estimated area of 2.37 hectares.

He said that the the volume of the uprooted marijuana plants in Ilocos Sur 
in early January was considered as the biggest haul of illegal drugs this 
year in the region.

"Our eradication of marijuana plants this year is part of a program called 
Oplan Tabas MJ," Subagan said.
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