CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – More than 59.4 million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed by combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents during five marijuana eradication operations conducted in different parts of the province from February 13 to 21, 2016.
From February 13-18, some P55.1 million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed in four simultaneous marijuana eradication operations in the province while there were around P4.3 million worth of marijuana plants which were destroyed during a followup eradication operation from February 18-21, 2016 at sitios Tambor and Kolyang in Tacadang, Kibugan Benguet.
The first wave of marijuana eradication operations were done in the hinterlands of Barangays Tacadang and Badeo in Kibungan, Benguet and Barangay Kayapa in Bakun, Benguet.
In sitios Lanipew, Bana and Dalipey of Barangay Tacadang, government forces uprooted 77,920 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants and 4,150 pieces of marijuana seedlings from 46 marijuana plantation sites covering an estimated land area of 10,763 square meters. They were also able to burn 45,000 grams of dried marijuana stalks from the said area.
Government troops who went to sitios Saep and Balbalnag in Barangay Badeo were able to burn 45,400 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants; 4,450 pieces of marijuana seedlings and 5,500 grams of dried marijuana leaves. The prohibited plants were sourced from 17 cultivation sites with an estimated land area of 6,201 square meters.
At sitios Dacap, Pugongan, Ka-ang, Nagawa and Naba of Barangay Kayapa, anti-narcotics agents were able to destroy 40,400 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants; 16,750 pieces of marijuana seedlings and 65,000 grams of dried marijuana stalks from 26 plantation sites covering an estimated land area of 6,557 square meters.
The law enforcers were also able to torch 34,970 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants from nine cultivation sites with an estimated land area of 6,110 square meters in sitios Gusadan, Agay-ay and Caday of Barangay Kayapa.
On February 18-21, law enforcers were able to burn 18,375 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants and 5,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves with a total value of P4,275,000.
The prohibited plants were discovered in 17 cultivation sites covering an estimated land area of 3,385 square meters.
This is the sixth marijuana eradication operation for this year in the Cordilleras, bringing to P86,442,000 the value of cannabis destroyed by government troops.
By Dexter A. See
