News Update Marijuana trees found in pineapple plantation

IMUS, Cavite - Police and military officers found suspected cannabis (marijuana) trees in a pineapple plantation during an operation early Thursday morning in a mountainous village in Silang, this province.

The operation was conducted following a report that cannabis are being cultivated in hectares of pineapple and other crop plantation in Sitio Tambora, Barangay Munting Ilog, a remote area in Silang town.

The random anti-drug operation was made by police and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) operatives led by Supt. Cosme A. Abrenica, Silang police chief, and Chief Inspector Joel B. Jucutan, head of Cavite-Highway Patrol Team.

The officials withheld the identities of the owner and caretaker of the plantation pending investigation. At least four suspected cannabis trees, 140 seeds and leaves wrapped in a paper were seized during the operation.

Jucutan said that there were hints that the cannabis trees in the one-hectare pineapple plantation have been uprooted before they came.

"Tila may nakaamoy sa operation, kaya binunot na yung mga marijuana trees," said Jucutan. (Somebody must have smelled our operation, that's why the marijuana trees were found uprooted.)

"But just the same, the evidence found, although minimal, can prove that the illegal trees were planted in the area," said Jucutan as he cited that drug charges are now being readied against the owner and caretaker of the plantation.