LUBUAGAN, Kalinga: Two visitors were arrested by police operatives and anti-narcotics agents after having been caught with P17.2 million worth of marijuana, which they attempted to transport across a police checkpoint in Sitio Dinakan, Dangoy, here, recently.

BGen. Mafelino Bazar, regional director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, identified the suspected marijuana couriers as Richard Ilagan de la Cruz, 24, a college student; and Dario Orpanel Gadingan, 44, driver, both residents of Caloocan City.

Probers disclosed that personnel of the 2nd Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company and Provincial Intelligence Unit received information that a private vehicle will attempt to transport marijuana products from Tinglayan, Kalinga going to Metro Manila via Tabuk City.

Acting on the said information, the police operatives set up a joint checkpoint at Sitio Dinakan, Dangoy, Lubuagan, Kalinga.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of 138 bricks of dried marijuana leaves and stalks weighing more or less 138,000 grams with a standard drug price (SDP) of P16,560,000 and six tubular dried marijuana leaves and stalks weighing more or less 6,000 grams with an SDP of P720,000.

Inventory of the pieces of evidence recovered was conducted on-site in the presence of the arrested suspects and witnessed by Bernadette Malayo, Department of Justice representative; Janette Alagao, media representative, and Kagawad Edna Taotao of Barangay Dangoy.

The arrested suspects and the seized items were brought to the Lubuagan Police Station for proper documentation and disposition.