2 minors arrested for transporting 4 sacks of marijuana
Seedling marijuana plants. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Two alleged minors were caught transporting four sacks of marijuana estimated to be worth P1.3 million by anti-narcotics agents in La Union, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Tuesday.
Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr., PDEA Director General, said the two unnamed minors, aged 15 and 16, were intercepted last Saturday by PDEA operatives and La Union authorities after almost 30 hours of monitoring in Barangay (village) Sasaba, Santol town, La Union province.
The agents seized four sacks containing 26 bricks of marijuana fruiting tops and 10 bundles of dried marijuana stalks with an overall weight of 52 kilograms.
The illegal hemp has an estimated street value of P1.3 million.
Cacdac said the two minors were accompanied by three other suspects also carrying sacks of marijuana managed to escape but were later identified by the arrested suspects as certain “Erwin,”“Wilbert” and
“Rafael Macana,” who are all residents of Barangay Badew in Kibungan town, Benguet province.
Violations of Republic Act 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, particularly Sections 5 and 11 of Article 2, or the transportation of dangerous drugs and possession of dangerous drugs.
The suspects, if proven to be minors, will be put under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the time being.
“However, they will be criminally liable under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, if the court finds that they acted with discernment in carrying the illegal drugs,” he added.
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