BAGUIO CITY–Seven people posing as tourists were arrested on Saturday after they were caught transporting over P22 million worth of marijuana dried leaves in two separate operations in Bontoc town, Mountain Province, police said.
A team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and local police flagged down the vehicle carrying the first group of drug suspects at a checkpoint in Barangay Caluttit, Bontoc around 9 p.m.
During the inspection, the anti-narcotic operatives discovered 145 pieces of marijuana bricks and tubes worth P19.3 million from the suspects identified as Joseph Petilona, 35; Mark Kevin Guzman, 21; Niño Acio, 25, and Princess Guma, 18. A 7-year-old child who was with the suspects was rescued during the operation.
Police also recovered a gun and ammunition from the suspects.
In a separate operation, another group of tourists was intercepted at the same checkpoint.
Police found seven pieces of marijuana bricks and tubes worth P3.3 million from the suspects who were identified as Jerald Escanillas, 29; John Vincent Santos, 20; and Princess Diana Kling, 21. A certain Ryan Joe Courpin, an alleged companion of the suspects, evaded arrest.
The suspects are now under the custody of Mountain Province Police Provincial Office and are facing charges for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.