P8.7M cannabis leaves seized from abandoned vehicle in LU; P2M in CAR

BAGUIO CITY (January 14, 2025)— Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 1 and La Union policemen seized 73 kilograms of dried cannabis (marijuana) leaves valued at P8,760,000.00 from an abandoned vehicle by the roadside in Barangay Sasaba, Santol town in La Union on Monday morning.



PDEA Region 1 Regional Director Joel B. Plaza named the suspects as Felmen Day-os Aliles Jr., alias Dondon; and Amado Paycao alias Amado A. Gante Jr., both from Barangay Sasaba, Santol, who Friday last week were able to avoid arrest at a checkpoint and fled upon noticing the authorities’ checkpoint.

PDEA operatives watched over the abandoned abandoned for several days until a search warrant was obtained to open the vehicle on Monday.

At least 73 pieces of elongated rolls of marijuana leaves wrapped with transparent plastic bags and packaging tape with a total weight of 73 kilograms were found from the Mitsubishi Delica van of the duo.

Standard price of a kilo of dried marijuana leaves is set by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) at P120,000.00.

Plaza said thy will sue the duo for violation of RA 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

On Monday evening, 14 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing shabu valued at P95,200.00 were seized from Hilario T. Constantino, 52, during a sting operation in Rosario town also in La Union. 

Constantino will also be facing drug charges, added Plaza.

“Near 2M cannabis torched in CAR”

Also on Monday, Cordillera policemen uprooted full grown marijuana plants with a total worth of P1,908,000.00 from eight plantation sites in Benguet and Kalinga provinces.

Benguet policemen swooped down on marijuana plantations in Kapangan and Kibungan. Seven marijuana plantation sites were discovered in Barangays Pudong and Gadang in Kapangan and in Barangay Tacadang in Kibungan. These sites were planted with 5,040 pieces of FGMJP with a Standard Drug Price (SDP) of P1,008,000.00. 

While Tinglayan, Kalinga policemen joined in by PDEA-Kalinga raided a marijuana plantation in Barangay Buscalan and found 4,500 pieces of marijuana plants with an SDP of P900,000.00

No arrests were however reported by the Cordillera policemen.