P6 million marijuana seized in La Union

BACNOTAN, La Union May 11 –  Combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents Police seized around 120 kilos hybrid marijuana worth P6-million in two separate operations at Barangay Poblacion here Saturday.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng, La Union police director, said that the towns police here headed by Sr. Inspector Fredilex Marron along with agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Orbil Libong of Apayao, San Gabriel, La Union while driving a jeep loaded with 25 kilos neatly packed marijuana which was supposed to be shipped to a prospective buyer in the locality.

Dumangeng said the suspect was trapped by policemen after an informant told them that the suspect was about to deliver the marijuana somewhere in the municipality.

The suspect was detained at the municipal jail facing charges of violation of the provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Following the arrest of the suspect was a raid at a junk shop where police recovered some 95 kilos of marijuana packed just the same items seized from the suspect.

“We our elated that informants continue to provide us with key information that resulted to the arrest of illegal drug couriers and the confiscation of prohibited drugs from their possession. WE appeal to the informants to sustain their contribution to the reduction of the drug supply in the province by providing us with important information that will lead to the arrest of drug couriers and seizure of illegal drugs,” Dumgangeng stressed.

The marijuana supply being circulated in the province reportedly comes from the tri-boundaries of Benguet, La Union and Ilocos Sur which are ideal marijuana plantation areas because of its mountainous terrain.

Dumangeng ordered police operating units in the different parts of the province to intensify their anti-drug operations in order to curb the proliferation of the sale and distribution of prohibited drugs, especially marijuana and shabu, to spare innocent individuals from being exposed to the serious negative effects on the use of illegal drugs.

He cited the contribution of the informant on the successful results of their latest anti-illegal drug operation in the municipality that contributed in the significant reduction of the marijuana supply being circulated not only in the municipality but also provincewide.

According to the police official, the identities of informants will be kept confidential by the law enforcers in order to guarantee their protection from the expected retaliation to be done by the drug suppliers whose illegal business are affected during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations in the different parts of the province which extends up to its tri-boundaries with Benguet and Ilocos Sur.

By Dexter A. See