Over P24.7M in Illegal Drugs Seized; 15 Arrested in Cordillera Weekend Ops
The Police Regional Office Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR) seized over PhP24.7 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested fifteen drug personalities—including twelve High-Value Individuals (HVIs)—during a series of intensified operations in Baguio City and the provinces of Benguet, Mountain Province, and Kalinga from April 18 to 19, 2026.
As part of “Oplan Benguet Ultimate Grasscutter,” PCOL LEDON D MONTE, Officer-in-Charge of the Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) and Deputy Regional Director for Operations of PRO CAR launched a two-day marijuana eradication operations in the municipalities of Bakun, Kapangan, and Kibungan.
The said operations led to the discovery of eleven marijuana cultivation sites containing 6,300 Fully Grown Marijuana Plants (FGMJP) and 84,370 grams of dried marijuana leaves with fruiting tops. The total Standard Drug Price (SDP) of the eradicated plants and dried leaves amounts to PhP24,744,208.00.
The joint operation was conducted by the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), Kapangan Municipal Police Station (MPS), the 2nd Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 (RMFB15), Regional Intelligence Unit 14 (RIU14), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-CAR.
In separate marijuana eradition operations operatives discovered marijuana plantations along the boundary of Sadanga and Tinglayan, as well as in Brgy. Loccong, Tinglayan, Kalinga. Operatives discovered and uprooted 60,000 FGMJP valued at PhP12,000,000.00 on the boundary area, and another 6,000 FGMJP worth PhP1,200,000.00 in Brgy. Loccong.
This operation was led by the Mountain Province PPO, Kalinga PPO, Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit, RIU-14, SOU-CAR, RMFB15, and PDEA-CAR.
All marijuana plants and dried leaves discovered during these operations were properly documented and immediately burned on-site after representative samples were collected for examination by the Regional Forensic Unit-CAR.
Meanwhile, in Baguio City, operatives arrested twelve High-Value Individuals during the service of a search warrant at a residence in the Slaughter Area. The operation was conducted by joint operatives of the Baguio City Police Office (CPO), RIU-14, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit-CAR (PNP DEG SOU-CAR), and PDEA-CAR.
Authorities initially arrested two primary suspects inside the residence. However, ten additional individuals found within the premises were also apprehended after law enforcers confiscated ten sachets of suspected shabu weighing 21 grams, with a Standard Drug Price of PhP142,800.00.
Moreover, in Buguias, Benguet, personnel from the Buguias MPS responded to a tip from a concerned citizen regarding drug activity in Brgy. Abatan. Responding officers caught two suspects in the act of using illegal drugs. Confiscated from the scene were 0.6 grams of suspected shabu worth PhP408.00 along with various drug paraphernalia. The two individuals were listed as Street-Level Individuals (SLIs).
In Paracelis, Mountain Province, another SLI was arrested during the implementation of a search warrant by operatives from the Mountain Province PPO, RID-PROCAR, RIU-14, and PDEA-CAR. A search of the suspect’s residence yielded fourteen sachets of suspected shabu weighing 2.5 grams, with an SDP of PhP17,000.00.
All arrested suspects and confiscated evidence have been brought to their respective arresting units for proper documentation and disposition. The suspects will be facing charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
