Kalinga PNP Search for Illegal Drug Plant Plantations Using Drones
The Philippine National Police (PNP) of Kalinga uses drones to search for illegal drug plant plantations within the province.
Drones are now being used by Kalinga police to track down “Maryjane” or marijuana crops across the province. Col. said Drones are already being used to acquire photo and video pictures of illicit plantation sites, according to Kalinga police provincial director Davy Vicente Limmong.
“Gumagamit tayo ng drone para matuntun natin ang ibang location ng plantation. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit medyo tuluy-tuloy ang ating mga marijuana eradication sa lahat ng lugar,” Limmong said.
According to a PNA article, 18 plantations in the province were destroyed in January 2021, the largest of which was estimated to be worth P50 million in fully mature maryjane plants and seedlings were uprooted and torched.
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Plantation locations are far away, he continued, and it takes them two to three days, sometimes five days, to get there. He claimed that identifying the illicit plantings is difficult, and that only planters know how to get to the location.
“Medyo hirap tayo at kinukuha natin nang mga ilang araw two to three days to five days. Pag akyat doon, hahanapin at medyo mahirap din ang paghahanap ng mga tanim na ito,” he said.
Plantation sites have moved significantly further away from residential areas, according to Limmong, making it impossible to locate them. They are reportedly working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and barangay officials to track down the plants’ location.
He explained that in addition to exploring new locations with the drone, they also return to previously discovered plantation sites and are more likely to detect fresh marijuana plants. The police officer indicated regions in Tinglayan where plantation sites are frequently uncovered.
Plantation sites are frequently on public land or open places, according to Limmong, making it difficult to capture cultivators. The officer expressed hope that Kalinga’s marijuana cultivation problem may be solved once and for all.
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