21-yr-old man arrested with P9.7M marijuana in Camarines Sur town

By Jason B. Neola

MILAOR, Camarines Sur --- A total of P9.75 million worth of marijuana was seized and a drug suspect arrested during a joint buy-bust operation in Barangay Maydaso, Milaor at around 8:40 p.m. on June 15, 2025.

The suspect, identified only as alias “Ray,” 21, a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Naga City, was arrested after selling one brick of marijuana (approximately 1 kilogram) to a police poseur-buyer for P10,000.

The operation was conducted by the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 5 (RPDEU5), in coordination with the Milaor Municipal Police Drug Enforcement Unit (MPDEU), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Region V (PDEA ROV).

A subsequent search incidental to arrest led to the recovery of the following:

61 marijuana bricks wrapped in cling wrap

74 vacuum-sealed plastic bags of dried marijuana leaves

4 cling-wrapped rolls of stemless marijuana leaves weighing approximately 79 kilograms

10 vacuum-sealed bags of hybrid marijuana (kush) weighing about 100 grams

In total, authorities confiscated approximately 80.1 kilograms of marijuana, with an estimated standard drug price of P9,750,000. The buy-bust money was also recovered.

Inventory and marking of the evidence were done on-site in the presence of required insulating witnesses and documented using alternative recording devices.

The seized marijuana was found stacked on a five-layer steel rack located near the rear portion of the suspect’s rented apartment. Authorities confirmed the suspect is a listed High-Value Target (HVT) for illegal drug activities.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) are being prepared against the suspect, who had been under surveillance for several weeks by joint intelligence units under the direct supervision of Police Col. Virgilio O. Olalia Jr., Provincial Director of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office.

Community members, particularly the insulating witnesses, played a vital role in the success of the operation.