Photo courtesy of Philippine National Police/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Monday the destruction of marijuana plants valued at P11.4 million during a full-day anti-illegal drugs operation in a mountainous village in Tinglayan, Kalinga.
The operation targeted high-value marijuana cultivation sites believed to be supplying illegal drugs across parts of the province, as law enforcement units intensified efforts to curb production at its source.
Authorities said the operation was conducted from morning until evening in Barangay Loccong through a joint effort involving police anti-drug units, mobile forces, and other law enforcement agencies operating in the Cordillera region.
At one plantation site covering about 4,500 square meters, police uprooted an estimated 45,000 fully grown marijuana plants valued at P9 million, while another site measuring roughly 1,200 square meters yielded about 12,000 plants worth P2.4 million.
In total, 57,000 marijuana plants were destroyed across a combined area of 5,700 square meters, bringing the estimated value of the eradicated crops to P11.4 million, police said.
All plants were burned on site to prevent recovery or replanting, while no individuals were arrested during the operation despite efforts to locate those responsible for the plantations.
Police said follow-up investigations were under way to identify the cultivators and prevent the re-establishment of marijuana plantations, as authorities reiterated their commitment to sustained operations in remote and high-risk areas.