News:2025-10-19/Enforcement/pdea-and-pnp-uproot-11-502-marijuana-plants-at-south-cotabato-sultan-kudarat-boundary

Philippines·South Cotabato; Sultan Kudarat·Tupi; Tampakan; Columbio·Miasong

PDEA and PNP uproot 11,502 marijuana plants at South Cotabato–Sultan Kudarat boundary

Agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and partner Philippine National Police units uprooted and destroyed approximately 11,502 fully grown cannabis plants on 19 October 2025 at a plantation straddling the boundaries of Columbio (Sultan Kudarat) and Tupi and Tampakan (South Cotabato). PDEA-12 reported the plantation as physically located in Barangay Miasong, Tupi. The seized material carried an estimated street value of ₱2.3 million. Most of the plants were incinerated at the site; two were retained for laboratory examination to serve as court evidence. PDEA-12 Regional Director Benjamin C. Recites III credited community intelligence with enabling the operation and appealed for continued tip-offs. The alleged plantation operator, known only by the alias "Jan Cris," remained at large at the time of reporting.

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261434