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. - ---