‘Tourists’ yield P3.2M marijuana, ‘shabu’ in Mt. Province

Police in Mountain Province flag down the vehicle of two men who were arrested for possession of 26 kilograms of marijuana and 16.6 grams of ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) worth P3.2 million. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BAGUIO CITY — Policemen have arrested two men in Mountain Province for alleged possession of 26 kilograms of marijuana valued at P3.2 million, and 16.6 grams of shabu (crystal meth).

Police said suspects Arvin Pino Vigilia and Jun Radly Reyes Pascual, both 31 and residents of Castillejos, Zambales, were traveling along the Baguio-Bontoc Road when they were flagged down at a checkpoint in Alab Proper village in Bontoc town.
The two claimed they were local tourists, according to police.

Authorities seized 12 tubular marijuana and 21 marijuana bricks, all wrapped in a transparent cellophane, as well as sachets of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Police said the arrested men would also face charges of illegal possession of firearms and violation of the election gun ban because they were caught carrying a .45-caliber Norinco pistol with seven live ammunition without appropriate documents.

The two reportedly came from Kalinga province.

On March 24, three local tourists were also arrested for transporting P720,000 worth of dried marijuana in Banaue, Ifugao. The three also reportedly came from Kalinga province.

Banaue police said they responded to an overturned pick-up truck in Tam-an village when one of the policemen noticed a cellophane containing dried marijuana inside the vehicle. /kga