Man nabbed for selling marijuana-laced candies in Laguna

A man was arrested in Laguna for allegedly selling candies laced with marijuana to students, who consume them inside classrooms, GMA News' John Consulta reported on 24 Oras on Wednesday.

The exclusive report said the suspect, identified as Bobby Babcock, was selling marijuana-laced gelatin gummy bears and bite-size chocolates for P500 each.

"Ang bata ang target nila, [mga] estudyante. Lalo ngayon pasukan," said Senior Superintendent Cecilio Ison, provincial director of Laguna police.

"Dahil in the form na sila ng chocolate, sa ordinaryo 'kala mo ordinaryong chocolate lang, may hulmahan pa. 'Yun pala ito, product na ng marijuana, galing sa hash."

The operation was conducted by combined forces of the Laguna SWAT and Laguna provincial intelligence branch (PIB) in an exclusive subdivision in San Pedro town after an informer tipped them of the new modus.

"Buti na lang itong community dito ay may nag-tip sa atin kung bakit paiba-iba ang dumadating dito," said Supt. Vic Cabatingan of the Laguna PIB. "So nung nag-validate tayo, akala natin shabu, 'yun pala marijuana."

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Babcock said marijuana has "health benefits."

"Naniniwala po ako sa health benefits na binibigay nito sa tao," he said.

Aside from the P350,000 worth of hash and marijuana, also seized from the suspect were glass pipes, microwave oven, gas chamber and molding designs.

Police said there would be follow-up operations after the raid.

"This is the very first time that we encounter this kind of drugs. Aggressively we want to disseminate this to the rest of CALABARZON and we will conduct an extensive public information drive particularly targeting our schools, the youth sector para po matulungan natin sila, para po maiwasan itong illegal drugs," said Chief Superintendent Ma. O Ranada Aplasca, regional director of CALABARZON police. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News