Map of Allen, Northern Samar. (Google image)
TACLOBAN CITY – Authorities have arrested a Vietnamese woman for illegal possession of agarwood in an entrapment operation in Allen, Northern Samar on Wednesday afternoon.
The Philippine National Police regional office here identified the suspect as Hong Dinh Thi Bich, 39, a resident of H. Dong Hoa, Phu Yen province in Vietnam.
An unidentified male person, believed to be the live-in partner of the suspect, was able to elude, according to a police report released Wednesday night.
Confiscated from the suspect were 10.9 kilos of agarwood with an estimated value of PHP763,000, a half kilo of bird's nest with an estimated worth of PHP750, accessories in making agar beads, and the buy-bust money.
The operating units were from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Northern Samar Field Unit (CIDG-NSFU), the Regional Special Operations Group (SOG), the provincial SOG, the 1st Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, 803rd Coy, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and Allen Municipal Police Station.
The arrested suspect was brought to CIDG-NSFU and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, police said in the report.
Agarwood is a fragrant dark resinous wood used as incense, perfume ingredient, and also in small carvings.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, many traders have been coming to the region to buy one of the world’s most expensive natural raw materials, extracted from host trees locally known as Lapnisan and Lanete.
This lucrative trade resulted in indiscriminate poaching of potential host trees. (PNA)
