MANILA – Two persons were arrested in Batangas for receiving an illegal shipment of high-grade "Kush" marijuana sent through parcel service from the United States.
Citing reports from the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas identified the arrested suspects as John Yengle Hernandez, 29, a vape store owner, of Banaybanay 1st, San Jose, Batangas; and Van Joshua Magpantay, 29, of Barangay 3, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas.
The two were arrested after they received a shipment containing illegal drugs earlier flagged by the NAIA-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
"The arrested persons obviously know where this high-grade marijuana comes from. Whether they cooperate or not, we are going after their international and local sources,” Sinas said.
The Bureau of Customs alerted NAIA-IADITG about the illegal shipment containing 500 grams of Kush marijuana in a parcel sent by a certain Nina Manual from California to Demetria Escalona, the consignee with address at Barangay Dalipit East, Alitagtag, Batangas.
Joint police and drug enforcement operatives launched a controlled delivery operation.
Sinas said the consignee authorized Magpantay to receive the parcel. The latter then provided Hernandez’s vape shop address located in Lipa City for the delivery.
Magpantay and Hernandez received the parcel and were arrested at the vape shop. (with reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
