Police arrested on Sunday a 52-year-old van driver from Tondo, Manila and 15 students for possession of P1.5-million marijuana in Sabangan, Mountain Province.
An Unang Balita report identified the driver as Bayani Malang.
Majority of the 15 young passengers of Malang were students from Tondo.
The report said local policemen received a tip that a van that will transport marijuana to Baguio City will pass by Sabangan town.
Policemen immediately set up checkpoints around the town.
When flagged down, the report said policemen noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the van.
After the inspection, policemen seized marijuana in various forms from the Hi-Ace Grandia van and the passengers.
Seized from the suspects were 56 marijuana bricks, four bundles of marijuana stalks, and powdered marijuana.
Meanwhile, three of the passengers claimed they are tourists and only hitched a ride and were not involved with the group.
Four of the students were minors and the rest are only over 18 years old.
credit:gmanetwork.com