Image: Stephane Bidouze / Shutterstock
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A 65-year-old farmer in Sulu is now facing charges for maintaining a hectare of cannabis plants, also known as marijuana, and for possessing several unlicensed firearms.
The plantation of cannabis, which is still prohibited in the country, was discovered by soldiers in the village of Linga in Luuk town, and allegedly owned by a certain Bakil Kadil.
Last Saturday (July 17), soldiers uprooted some 11,000 fully grown cannabis plants from Kadil’s farm and burned these, said Col. Hernanie Songano, commander of the 4th Marine Brigade.
Also burned were dried marijuana leaves contained in three large boxes that were also found in the farm, Songano added.
The total haul is estimated to be valued at P10 million.
Major General William Gonzales, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the operation against Kadil was closely coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Sulu provincial police office, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
As the soldiers scoured Kadil’s farm, they stumbled upon and seized two M1 Garand rifles, an M14 rifle, and a carbine rifle.
Kadil is currently detained at the Luuk municipal police station.
Songano noted that the operation last Saturday is the brigade’s third against cannabis farming this year. The first two were in March, in Caluang town.