PDEA-BARMM uproots P12.9 million worth of marijuana plants in Sulu

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has uprooted P12.9 million worth of marijuana plants, dismantled two drug dens, and arrested nine drug personalities in separate operations. (File photo from Agence France-Presse)

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao del Norte, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has scored big in the past two days, as it uprooted P12.9 million worth of marijuana plants, dismantled two drug dens, and arrested nine drug personalities in separate operations.

In his report on Tuesday, PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro said joint operations by anti-drug agents, police, and military forces in Sulu led to the seizure of dried marijuana leaves during a buy-bust operation on Monday in Barangay Masjid Punjungan, Kalilangan Caluang town, Sulu.

He said, however, that the suspected marijuana peddler managed to elude arrest and left P6,000 worth of illegal plants.

A follow-up operation led to the discovery and eventual uprooting of 15,000 marijuana plants in a 500-square-meter land in Sitio Mangal-Mangal of Barangay Masjid Punjungan.

“However, the target personalities, who were later identified as Rene Onji, also known as Rene, and Amah Jul Onji, also known as Jul (both marijuana cultivators), were able to evade arrests after sensing the presence of the operatives,” Castro also said in the report.

According to the PDEA-BARMM leader the uprooted marijuana plants were estimated to be valued at P12,900,000.

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In Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte, PDEA operatives, backed by police and military forces, dismantled on Monday a drug den and arrested five men during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Salimbao.

Seized from them were suspected meth, locally known as “shabu,” contained in several sachets with a combined market value of P102,000, buy-bust money, mobile phones, and a Yamaha motorbike.

In Cotabato City also on Monday, PDEA operatives shut down a drug den in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, arrested four persons, and seized over P170,000 worth of shabu.

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Among the arrested suspects was a 61-year-old woman, who allegedly maintained the drug den.

Anti-narcotics agents seized 58 small sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and various identification cards at the scene.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 are being prepared for filing against the suspects, who are now detained at the PDEA- BARMM detention facility.