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Philippines world's

2nd biggest

marijuana producer

MANILA: The Philippines produces an estimated 1.4 billion dollars worth of marijuana yearly, making it the world's second biggest source of the banned narcotic next to Mexico, a senator said Sunday.

Senator Ernesto Herrera said in a statement his figures were taken from the Dangerous Drugs Board, the country's leading narcotics control agency, based on field intelligence reports and the rising number of marijuana plants seized by the police.

Police last year "confiscated and destroyed" 29.65 million marijuana plants and seedlings in 1995, or seven times the volume seized in 1994, said Herrera, an anti-vice crusader who chairs the private watchdog Citizens' Drugwatch Foundation, Inc.

In addition, the authorities confiscated 2.2 tonnes of marijuana leaves, 230 kilograms (506 pounds) of seeds, 6,864 cigarette sticks made from the plant, and 5.8 kilograms (12.76 pounds) of hashish and marijuana concentrate, he said.

He said the country's total marijuana output could reach 1.4 billion dollars annually - an amount almost equal to the country's biggest real estate deal signed last year.

The Philippines last year restored the death penalty on drug dealing, including possession of 750 grams (26.25 ounces) of marijuana, in an effort to fight the menace.

Herrera said 70 percent of those convicted under the death penalty law are drug traffickers.

Marijuana production in the country has lured international drug syndicates, particularly to the northern Cordillera region, where the plant thrives best, and the resort island of Mindoro, south of Manila, he said.

Locally produced Marijuana resin "can compete with the world's best" and are solely for export, the senator added.-AFP