MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – Police operatives seized an estimated ₱2 million worth of cannabis-related items in a buy-bust operation in Mabalacat City, raising concerns over the growing presence and variety of marijuana-based products being sold in the province.
Three suspected high-value individuals (HVIs), aged 24, 25, and 28, were arrested in Barangay Bical by operatives from the Mabalacat City Police Station.
Two kilograms of dried marijuana leaves worth ₱240,000; 520 grams of suspected Kush with standard drug price of ₱858,000; 218 marijuana-flavored vape cartridges amounting to ₱872,000, and 19 pieces of marijuana oil worth ₱30,000 were recovered during the operation.
Authorities noted that the volume and variety of cannabis products recovered point to a rising trend that could attract younger users and complicate enforcement efforts.
“These are no longer your traditional forms of marijuana. The suspects were clearly distributing high-end, processed cannabis products, which are often disguised or marketed in ways that appeal to younger consumers,” Pampanga Police Provincial Officer Director PCOL Eugene M. Marcelo said.
Police said the vape cartridges alone show signs of how the illegal drug market is adapting to consumer trends.
Marcelo warned that the accessibility and appeal of such products pose new challenges to law enforcement, and called on communities to remain vigilant.
“This incident reflects a dangerous shift in the local drug trade, and we are taking this seriously. Our intensified operations aim to prevent these products from reaching our youth and communities,” Marcelo added.
All suspects are now in police custody and face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
For his part, Police Regional Office 3 Director PBGEN Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones, Jr. commended the operatives for their swift and decisive action.
“This successful operation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to cleanse our communities of drug syndicates and pushers. We are intensifying our efforts to go after all criminal elements threatening public safety,” he said.
Authorities continue to monitor distribution trends and supplier networks as part of their province-wide crackdown on illegal drugs.
They also call on the public to continue their support by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest police stations.
