In a significant blow to illegal drug operations, the military, in collaboration with law enforcement, obliterated a marijuana plantation valued at PHP10.2 million in Sulu. The operation took place on the borders of Luuk and Kalingalan Caluang towns, where authorities discovered and destroyed 11,950 mature marijuana plants spread over a 1,950-square-meter area on February 21, 2025.
Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, commander of the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade, reported that the plantation was found in the afternoon across Barangay Guimbaon in Luuk and Barangay Pitogo in Kalingalan Caluang. The operation involved coordinated efforts from the military, police, and agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), who uprooted and incinerated the plants.
Delos Santos emphasized the operation’s role in their ongoing efforts to cleanse communities of illegal activities and enhance safety. He pledged continued collaboration with law enforcement to combat illegal drugs and other criminal activities.
PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Director Gil Cesario Castro confirmed the details of the plantation, noting that it was operated by an individual known as “Mahdi,” who was absent during the raid. Castro stated that Mahdi would face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The success of the operation was credited to the local community’s cooperation, which provided crucial information leading to the plantation’s destruction.