Gov't burns almost P400M worth of marijuana in 2014

MANILA, Philippines - The government has destroyed almost P400 million worth of marijuana plants and sources in operations last year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Friday.

 

The PDEA added that the number of marijuana plantations destroyed nationwide in 2014 has increased by 12.2 percent. 

 

In its consolidated report, the PDEA said that a total of 506 sites that grow marijuana were eradicated in 2014 which resulted in the destruction of P397.04 million worth of marijuana plants and sources, and the arrest of five drug personalities.

 

In 2013, authorities destroyed a total of 451 plantation sites in 2013. 

 

"From 2010 to 2014, a total of 1,481 marijuana plantation sites, mostly found in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), were eradicated by PDEA and other law enforcement agencies," PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said. 

 

The highest accomplishment during the year was conducted by joint elements of PDEA Regional Office-CAR and Police Regional Office-Cordillera on January 10 to 13, 2014. 

 

The four-day eradication operation led to the discovery of 62 marijuana cultivation sites covering 43,439 square meters that were found in eight sitios in two municipalities of the province of Benguet. 

 

P77.37 million worth of marijuana plants and seedlings were destroyed as a result of the operation.

 

"Marijuana is the country’s second drug of choice among drug abusers. Though there is a proposed bill allowing the compassionate use of marijuana for medical purposes waiting to be passed, there is a growing apprehension that if ratified, the bill could be a springboard for the eventual legalization of recreational marijuana in the Philippines," Cacdac said.

 

"But as far PDEA is concerned, marijuana remains to be a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. We will continue to arrest anyone who is engaged in the sale, trafficking, cultivation and use of the illegal hemp and sustain our intensified efforts to seek and wipe out marijuana plantation sites in the country," he added.