MORE OR LESS 48 kilos of marijuana dried leaves and powder worth P6 million were seized from five alleged drug suppliers in a three-day buy-bust operation in Davao City and Digos City beginning Monday, July 24.
Speaking at Thursday’s press conference held at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Naravy Duquiatan, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI director, identified the suspects as Jonnel Besonia, a resident of Leon Garcia, Agdao, who yielded 20 kilos of dried marijuana; Jimboy Remulta, a resident of Agdao; John Tagalog of Old Airport, Sasa, Jezrel Tandoy, and Andrew Chua.
“They are suppliers and distributors of illegal drugs because they are considered a big source of illegal drugs,” Duquiatan said.”They are not only selling marijuana but also shabu.”
In total, the PDEA XI confiscated 40 kilos of dried marijuana leaves and ten kilos of marijuana powder. Duquiatan said it was the first time the PDEA agents seized marijuana powder in the region.
The PDEA XI, together with the Davao City Police Office, National Bureau of Investigation XI, Police Drug Enforcement Group, and Special Operations Group (SOG) XI, launched four simultaneous operations in Davao City and one in Digos City.
“The suspects were acquaintances with each other. Some of them allegedly are part of a group, and others also are solely selling illegal drugs in different areas in the region,” Duquiatan said.
Based on the PDEA chemist, the marijuana bricks were packed in the “northern part of the country.” She insisted there’s no large-scale marijuana warehouse in the region, as the suspects claimed they sourced their material from the Cordilleras.
“Marijuana is compact and easier to ship and conceal specifically if you try to deliver that in any areas of the country. And there is what we call a marijuana warehouse in an area in the country where it is dried, processed, as well as compacted using a hydraulic process,” Duquiatan explained.
She explained that marijuana powder is edible and water-soluble. Compared to the standard marijuana leave, which takes two hours for the effects to manifest, powder only takes minutes.
“We are trying to do our best to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs, especially in our region,” she said, adding that the suspects and their group have been under surveillance since 2020.
Nephi Noli Dimaandal, PDEA XI spokesperson, said Jenboy Remulta, 21, single and a resident of Sto. Niño, Agdao Proper, was arrested after he sold a sachet of marijuana weighing one kilo to an agent around 12:30 a.m. on Monday.
Nine pieces of cling-wrapped bricks with suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing more or less nine kilos with an estimated street value of P 1,080,000 drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust marked money were also seized from Remulta.
At around 12:58 a.m., another drug buy-bust operation was also conducted at Old Airport Road, Sasa, resulting in the arrest of Tagalog. He allegedly sold one kilo of marijuana to a poseur-buyer.
Nine pieces of cling-wrapped bricks with suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing more or less nine kilos worth P1,080,000 and the buy-bust marked money were also seized from Tagalog. He added that the motorcycle he used in his illegal drug activities was also confiscated.
Meanwhile, Besonia was arrested for selling two bricks of suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing more or less two kilos to an operative at around 1:50 a.m. at D.A. Homes, Barangay Pampanga.
Eighteen kilos of suspected dried marijuana leaves with an estimated street value of P2,160,000 and the buy-bust marked money were also seized during the operation.
Cases for violating Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) of 2002 are being prepared against the suspects.
