Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents seized 73 kilograms of marijuana worth P8.7 million inside an abandoned vehicle in La Union province.
In a statement on Tuesday, PDEA Regional Office 1 (Ilocos) director Joel Plaza said the contraband was seized during a search warrant operation at about 11:00 a.m. on Monday in Santol town.
Confiscated were 73 pieces of elongated rolls of marijuana leaves wrapped in transparent plastic bags and packaging tape and a Mitsubishi Delica vehicle.
The suspects who abandoned the vehicle were identified as Felmen Day-os Aliles Jr., alias Dondon; and Amado Paycao, alias Amado Gante Jr., both residents of Barangay Sasaba, Santol, also in La Union. Both are at large.
PDEA operatives had been monitoring the suspects for days.
Plaza said an interdiction operation was set up to catch them but they apparently sensed the looming operation and fled.
The suspects would face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
