Marijuana runners arrested in Kalinga; P23M worth of weed seized

Tabuk City, Kalinga – While police in Lubuagan were outrun by three suspected Marijuana transporters in a chase in upper Kalinga, the three were later arrested by authorities in Tabuk and seized from them contrabands at Block 3, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga on Friday, September 27.

At first, two ‘sweepers’ on board of motorcycles were seen by operatives at Sitio Dinakan, Lubuagan 50 -100 meters away from their checkpoint, as relayed by Kalinga Police Spokesperson, PCapt. Ruff Manganip, in an interview.

The two were said to have been observing if police at the checkpoint are keeping an eye on vehicles passing. When they saw an opening, they quickly moved along with a car that followed them not minding the checkpoint.

This resulted in a chase but authorities were not able to catch up. They eventually coordinated with police in Tabuk City and told them the descriptions of the three vehicles- a HAIMA MPV bearing plate number CBT 8410; a Yamaha 155 motorcycle and a Honda XR 150.

Tabuk police responded and immediately moved. While the suspects were able to pass through the checkpoint in Block 3, they were later cornered near the area, particularly in front of a restaurant.

Recovered from them were dried Marijuana leaves in bricks form, sealed with transparent plastic weighing more or less 192 kilograms and with a market price of P23,040,000.

Non-drug items seized were the three vehicles used, temporary driver’s license of Galvez Paul Andrei Y Barnabe; photocopy of the OR / CR of the Haima vehicle, an IPhone, two Oppo brand phones, a keyless entry key for haima color black with key chain; and keys of the two motorcycles.

As part of the process, onsite inventory of the pieces of evidence was conducted as witnessed by representatives from the DOJ, media, barangay officials and from the prosecutor’s office.

The arrested persons were two Buscalan locals on motorcycles and a resident of Bulacan who drove the 4-wheel vehicle. All three were brought to the Tabuk City Police Station for documentation.