MANILA – Authorities seized more than PHP2 million worth of marijuana in operations in the provinces of Cebu and Cavite and the city of Las Piñas in Metro Manila on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) said.
In a statement Wednesday, PDEG director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said police officers uprooted and destroyed around 6,000 marijuana plants worth PHP1.2 million in Cebu's Balamban town.
This came after the Balamban police discovered a 1,000-square-meter plantation site in the town's Barangay Bayong.
A manhunt is underway for the cultivators who eluded arrest.
The marijuana plants were destroyed on-site in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
Meanwhile, members of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A (Calabarzon) seized various marijuana products with an estimated street value of PHP506,000 from a drug suspect known as alias 'Wenxer' in a sting operation in Barangay Pinagbuklod, Imus City, Cavite at about 4:50 a.m.
'Wenxer' yielded 286 boxes of vape cartridges which contained marijuana oil, 20 grams of kush, and syringes which contained cannabis resin.
At about 8 p.m. the Las Piñas City police collared Romyson Ian Ofiaza,25, in a buy-bust in Barangay Talon Uno.
Seized from the suspect was around 3 kg. of marijuana worth PHP360,000. (PNA)