CITY of SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — A British and his Filipina wife were arrested by government anti-illegal drugs operatives following raid in their rented apartment at Magdalena Homes, Barangay Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales Friday dawn, where some P15 million worth of fully grown cannabis (marijuana) have been uprooted and confiscated, Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency announced.
PDEA 3 Director Attorney Gil Pabilona identified the suspects as Simon Stuart McLaren Watson, 44, and Riza Macabenta Fernandez, 29, both residents in said village.
Pabilona said the suspects closed a drug deal with a poseur buyer who met them outside of their residence past 2 a.m. He said they were arrested after handing quantitative amount of dried marijuana.
The operatives, Pabilona said barged inside the suspects residence where they found out a fully-airconditioned and well-lighted nursery room, about five by six square meters floor size with fully grown cannabis planted on 64 medium-size pots being kept inside.
“This is the first cannabis laboratory plantation discovered by PDEA and operatives of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in Central Luzon,” said Pabilona. He said the first similar “plantation” was discovered in Las Pinas last year.
Uprooted marijuana, Pabilona said weigh more or less 10 kilos with estimated value of not less than P15 million based on the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) prevailing assessment.
Pabilona said the spouse were selling cannabis to their close friends. “We are still checking if the suspects are selling the stuff on line there are reports on their alleged activities.”
“We are still verifying the information. So far this is what we found out inside their house.” Pabilona explained.
Cultivation and selling of marijuana is prohibited under the law.
The suspects were brought to PDEA 3 regional headquarters as appropriate charges are being readied against them. (jess malabanan)