Pubdate: Sun, 23 Oct 2005
Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Copyright: Arab News 2005
Contact:  http://www.arabnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3617
Author: Al Jacinto
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

PHILIPPINE TROOPS HUNTING EXTREMISTS FIND MARIJUANA PLANTATION

ZAMBOANGA CITY, 23 October 2005 - Security forces yesterday said they
have destroyed a large marijuana plantation believed to be maintained
by Abu Sayyaf extremists in the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

Officials said army troops were tracking down militants in the
hinterlands of Patao village in Maimbung town when they stumbled into
the plantation.

A combined team of soldiers and police were then sent to the place to
destroy the illegal crops.

"We have uprooted at least 3,000 fully grown marijuana plants," army
Maj. Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman of the military's Southern Command,
told Arab News.

Hayudini said the seized marijuana plants were handed over to the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for disposal.

Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan yesterday lauded the
soldiers who found the plantation and urged citizens in Jolo to help
protect their own children by providing information about illegal drugs.

"This is everybody's concern and we should all stand up and unite to
fight the drug menace," Adan said.

Previous military reports said the Abu Sayyaf and allied extremist and
bandit groups have been engaging in the illegal drug trade to finance
their violent activities. Aside from the illegal drugs, the Abu Sayyaf
group is also into extortion and kidnappings-for-ransom, it said.

Government reports said more than 20 million marijuana plants had been
seized and destroyed since 2002 in the Philippines.

According to the 2004 World Drug Report of the United Nations, more
Filipinos smoke marijuana than their Southeast Asian counterparts and
that the Philippines is ranked along with Thailand and Cambodia as a
major producer of cannabis in the region.

The Philippines also ranked 52nd among 136 countries where there are
large users of marijuana, being the cheapest in a wide array of
illegal drugs in the country.

A stick of dried marijuana cigarette sells only 2 pesos (3 US cents)
in the Philippines. 
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