P15M worth of marijuana seized in Subic; laboratory shut down

Authorities seized 15 million worth of homegrown marijuana plants in Subic raid on Friday (Photo by Allan Macatuno)

SUBIC, Zambales—The Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit raided a marijuana laboratory here on Friday (Jan. 11), seizing 15 million worth of marijuana.

Gil Pabilona, PDEA Central Luzon director, said they discovered thelaboratory at Magdalena Subdivision, Barangay (village) Sto. Tomas, in a house rented by British National, Simon Watson, 44, and his live-in partner Rizza Fernandez, 28.

The confiscated marijuana plants were grown in two separate rooms, said Senior Superintendent Rommel Batangan, chief of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 3. The couple has been arrested.

Authorities seized 15 million worth of homegrown marijuana plants in Subic raid on Friday (Photo by Allan Macatuno)

Pabilona said the seized contraband weighed about 10 kilograms.

Mayor Jay Khonghun said the suspects were placed under surveillance after authorities were tipped off about the laboratory./lzb