Four men were arrested and ₱3.6 million worth of marijuana was seized in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet, on May 7, 2025.
The high-value drug operation was carried out by agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Cordillera (PDEA-CAR), with support from its provincial and regional units and the Philippine National Police’s anti-drug group. Authorities moved in swiftly after verifying reports of a planned transaction involving a large volume of marijuana in the area.
The suspects were caught after one of them allegedly sold 30 tubular packs—approximately 30 kilograms—of suspected dried marijuana leaves with stalks to an undercover agent. A black SUV used to transport the illegal drugs was also confiscated at the scene.
According to PDEA-CAR Regional Director Derrick Arnold C. Carreon, two of the suspects are residents of Santol, La Union, while the other two are from Tublay, Benguet.
All four suspects are facing charges for violating Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The seized drugs and the vehicle are now in PDEA custody for documentation and further investigation. Authorities emphasized that anti-drug operations will continue across the region to suppress illegal narcotics activity.
