Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2005 Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines) Copyright: 2005, Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942 Author: Ernie N. Olson Jr. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines COPS CONFISCATE P1.5 MILLION WORTH OF MARIJUANA SOME P1.5 million worth of dried marijuana bricks were seized by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a series of operations conducted in Baguio City early this week. The drug operations also resulted in the arrest of two women, allegedly couriers of an organized drug syndicate operating in the city. Superintendent Bernardo Borrinaga, PDEA director for Cordillera, identified the suspects as Jocelyn Korangaw Gakayan, 30; and Maria Diga Wanayan, 25, both residents of San Carlos Heights, Irisan. Two other suspected drug pushers, who eluded arrest during the raid, were identified as Elmer Abedeo, the caretaker of the raided safehouse in Irisan; and a certain "Lakay". Borrinaga said the two arrested suspects were caught while delivering a blue Sagada weave backpack containing three bricks of marijuana weighing 2.8 kilograms within the vicinity of two adjoining bus terminals along Otek Street last Monday. The arrest of the duo subsequently led to the confiscation of another one kilo of marijuana leaves and six bundles of dried cannabis sative bricks weighing 18.2 kilos when the PDEA operatives swooped down on the suspects' safehouse. The following day, the PDEA operatives intercepted 38 kilos of marijuana placed in three boxes at the Victory Liner Bus Terminal in Marcoville supposed to be delivered by "Lakay" who was able to escape. - ---