By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

MARIJUANA PLANTATION. Authorities destroy a marijuana plantation in the boundaries of Luuk and Kalingalan Caluang towns in Sulu on Friday (Feb. 21, 2025). Some 11,950 fully-grown marijuana plants were uprooted from a 1,950-square-meter lot and were later burned. (Photo courtesy of 1102Bde)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military and various law enforcement agencies have destroyed some PHP10.2 million worth of marijuana plants in Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade (1102Bde) commander, said the marijuana plantation, discovered on Friday afternoon, are within the villages of Barangay Guimbaon in Luuk and Barangay Pitogo in Kalingalan Caluang.

Delos Santos said the operating troops, together with the police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents, uprooted and burned the marijuana plants.

“This joint operation is our commitment to rid our communities of illegal activities and promote a safer environment for our people. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners to address the scourge of illegal drugs and other forms of criminality,” he said in a news release Friday.

Director Gil Cesario Castro of PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Saturday that 11,950 fully-grown marijuana plants were planted in an estimated area of 1,950 square meters.

Castro said the marijuana plantation is cultivated by an alias “Mahdi,” who was not around when the raiding team arrived.

He said Mahdi would be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Delos Santos attributed the success of the operation to the cooperation of the local communities that provided invaluable information leading to the destruction of the marijuana plantation. (PNA)