BAGUIO CITY – Two suspected drug couriers were nabbed by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after they were found to be in possession of some 140 kilos of marijuana loaded inside their vehicle at a checkpoint in barangay Camp 7 here Friday night.
Arrested by personnel of the Cordillera office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-CAR) and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) were Rose Baleg Bentres, 33, a vendor at the La Trinidad vegetable trading post, who hails from Sagpat, Kibungan but presently resides in Acop, Tublay, Benguet and Arman Fabian Atonen, 20, farmer, a native of Kayapa, Bakun, Benguet but presently lives in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Confiscated from the suspects were around 73 kilos of fresh marijuana leaves and stalks and 68 kilos of dried marijuana leaves in brick form which were packed inside nin ‘ukay-uay’ bags nd loaded inside their van which was en route to the lowlands.
NBI-CAR agents and police operatives received a tip from concerned citizens that the two arrested suspects who were with two other male companions were set to transport the contraband from Baku, Benguet to Metro Manila anytime.
During the inspection of the seized contraband, the van driver and one of their male companions were able to escape by jumping into a creek nearby and fleeing towards an undisclosed direction.
By Dexter A. See