P19.5-M marijuana leaves seized in Tarlac, 6 suspects arrested

MANILA, Philippines — More than P19.5 million worth of marijuana leaves were seized in Tarlac on Thursday morning from six alleged traffickers during a buy-bust, police said.

In a report, Central Luzon police director Police Brigadier General Valeriano de Leon identified the alleged traffickers who were arrested as Marlon Miranda, 34; Joey Palaeyan, 33; Freddie Letta, 35; Carl Andrei Maico,22; Via Jean Ortiga, 19; and Lorraine Fulgencio, 23.

Police said the suspects were arrested after an undercover police officer bought 25 kilograms of dried marijuana leaves during the bust in Barangay San Francisco in Concepcion town at 9:45 a.m.

Elements of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Tarlac, the Concepcion police, and the Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit in Tarlac conducted the joint drug bust.

Confiscated from the arrested suspects were the marked cash, dried marijuana leaves with an estimated value of P19,560,000, cellphones, and the vehicles allegedly used in drug transactions.

De Leon said the suspects were actively engaged in the distribution of marijuana in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.

The suspects are now detained at the Tarlac police headquarters and will be facing complaints for drug trafficking before the Tarlac Prosecutor’s Office.

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