LUBUAGAN, Kalinga – Two visitors were arrested by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after having found in their possession some P17.2 million worth of marijuana which they attempted to transport at a police checkpoint at Sitio Dinakan, Dangoy.
Police Brig. Gen. Mafelino Bazar, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, identified the arrested marijuana couriers as Richard Ilagan Dela Cruz, 24 years old, a college student; and Dario Orpanel Gadingan, 44 years old, driver; both residents of Caloocan City.
Probers disclosed that personnel of the 2nd Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) and Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) received information that a private vehicle will be transporting marijuana products from Tinglayan, Kalinga going to Metro Manila via Tabuk City.
Acting on the said information, the police operatives have established a joint checkpoint at Sitio Dinakan, Dangoy, Lubuagan, Kalinga.
The operation resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of 138 bricks of dried marijuana leaves and stalks weighing more or less 138,000 grams with a Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P 16,560,000.00 and 6 tubular form of dried marijuana leaves and stalks weighing more or less 6,000 grams with an SDP of P 720,000.00.
Inventory of the pieces of evidence recovered was conducted on-site in the presence of the arrested suspects and witnessed by Ms. Bernadette Malayo, DOJ representative; Janette Alagao, Media representative, and Kagawad Edna D. Taotao of Barangay Dangoy.
Further, the arrested suspects and seized contraband were brought to Lubuagan MPS for proper documentation and disposition.
