BUSTED. Customs officers account for kush and marijuana-laced vapes found in balikbayan boxes from Thailand during an inspection at the Manila International Container Port on Tuesday (April 2, 2024). The contraband worth PHP102 million was found in five balikbayan boxes. (Photo courtesy of CIIS-MICP)
MANILA – Customs authorities discovered PHP102 million worth of kush and marijuana-laced vapes at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
In a statement Wednesday, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) director Verne Enciso said these contrabands were intercepted during a physical examination of several balikbayan boxes from Thailand on Tuesday.
Out of 200 inspected balikbayan boxes, five boxes were found containing 82 kg. of kush and 1,881 disposable marijuana-laced vapes by a narcotic detection dog from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Enciso said the physical examination stemmed from an alert order issued on Feb. 28, after the CIIS-MICP received derogatory information about the shipment consigned to Marcelo D. Laylo Cargo Forwarders with a certain Gerard Cruz listed as the recipient.
The first balikbayan box contained 11 black pouches with approximately 500 grams of kush, 12 transparent pouches with another 500 grams, and two small boxes with 47 and 43 pieces of vapes, respectively.
In the second box, BOC agents found 12 transparent pouches with about 500 grams of kush, a box with 47 pieces of vape, and one with 782 pieces of vape.
Meanwhile, the third box yielded two boxes with 12 clear pouches of 500 grams of kush each and two boxes with 45 pieces of vape in each box.
The fourth balikbayan box was found to have two boxes -- the one contained 11 black pouches with 500 grams of kush, while the other had 782 pieces of vape.
In the fifth balikbayan box, the agents discovered two boxes—one had 22 clear pouches and the other had 72 clear pouches all with 500 grams of kush inside—and two boxes with 45 pieces of vape each.
After the inspection, the items were returned to the container van, which was then sealed and padlocked for safekeeping. These are scheduled for turnover to the PDEA after full inventory.
The consignees, senders, and recipients of the balikbayan boxes will possibly face charges in violation of Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Meanwhile, Customs officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted several unclaimed parcels containing more than 3 kg. of illegal drugs in Pasay City.
In a statement Wednesday, Bureau of Customs (BOC)-NAIA District Collector Yasmin Mapa said the parcels have been declared as various items such as hardware and personal things with an estimated value of PHP14.8 million.
Mapa said the parcels arrived on Jan. 19 from Wilmington, California in the United States and were discovered at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) to contain cocaine and marijuana.
Upon inspection, Mapa said they found 2.4 kg. of cocaine hidden inside black bolts wrapped in a parcel, estimated to be worth PHP12.9 million
Meanwhile, an inspection of another six parcels at the CMEC declared as personal items were found to contain 1.3 kg. of marijuana worth PHP1.8 million.
The consignees of the shipments, whose identities were withheld, would be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. (PNA)
