BUSTED. Agents of the CIIS-MICP account for kush or dried marijuana found in a shipment declared as household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand during an inspection on Wednesday (April 24, 2024). The contraband with an estimated street value of PHP29.5 million was found in an illegal shipment. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday reported the interception of some PHP29.5 million worth of kush (dried marijuana) inside a shipment from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
In a statement, Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said a full physical examination of the shipment at the Designated Examination Area (DEA) of the MICP on Wednesday led to the discovery of 74 boxes containing the contraband consigned to Philippians 419 Export and Import Gen Mdse Corp.
The shipment which was declared as household items, shoes, and motor parts arrived at the MICP on April 12.
“We are seeing this modus more and more these days of marijuana being shipped through balikbayan boxes, which have become symbols of the Filipino diaspora. It’s sad to think that this modus is using something ubiquitous to every Filipino family as a balikbayan box because it degrades what that box symbolizes for us,” Rubio said.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) director Verne Enciso, meanwhile, said the physical examination was done after they received “derogatory information” that the shipment contains illegal drugs.
Enciso said the first box has around 6,400 grams of dried marijuana or kush packed in 24 pieces of plastic pouch; the second box has about 9,771 grams packed in 42 pieces of plastic pouch; and the third box has around 4,900 grams packed in 22 pieces of plastic pouch.
He added about 21,071 grams of dried marijuana or kush has an estimated street value of PHP29,499,400.
“We so far opened three boxes out of the 74 boxes found and now we have positive confirmation of the presence of marijuana,” Enciso said.
MICP District Collector Mimel Talusan has issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) on the shipment following the discovery of the illegal drugs.
He, meanwhile, said the assigned Customs examiner will continue the thorough examination of the shipment, including the opening and unboxing, in the presence of agents from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Environmental Protection and Compliance Division (EPCD), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The PDEA is also set to do confirmatory testing on the samples of suspected dried marijuana or kush taken from the subject boxes.
The remaining boxes have been brought back to the container, which was secured with padlocks and seals for safekeeping.
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 (CMTA) and Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
