THERE is no stopping the Bureau of Customs (BOC) after it again found some P29.5 million worth of dried marijuana or kush in a shipment from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

A 100% physical examination at the Designated Examination Area (DEA) of the MICP led to the discovery of 74 boxes containing dried marijuana or kush in the shipment consigned to Philippians 419 Export and Import GEN MDSE CORP that arrived last April 12, 2024.

Three of the boxes have been opened to reveal the presence of 21,071 grams of marijuana during three inspections conducted by agents of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-MICP.

BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio, who lauded the operation, stood firm in the agency’s mandate and President Marcos’ directive to stop the entry of smuggled goods and illegal drugs into the country.

“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,” he said.

According to CIIS Director Verne Enciso, the physical examination were done on April 19, 23, and 24 after CIIS MICP office received “derogatory information” that the shipment contains illegal drugs.

“Based on the report from our field station at the MICP, the shipment was declared to contain only household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand. We so far opened three boxes out of the 74 boxes found and now we have positive confirmation of the presence of marijuana,” he said.

He furthered that the first box has more or less 6,400 grams of dried marijuana or kush packed in 24 pieces of plastic pouch; the second box has more or less 9,771 grams packed in 42 pieces of plastic pouch; and the third box has more or less 4,900 grams packed in 22 pieces of plastic pouch.

The more or less total of 21,071 grams of dried marijuana or kush has an estimated street value of P29,499,400. These three consolidated boxes are consigned to a certain Wilma Bulahagui and Erickson Bulahagui. MICP District Collector Mimel Talusan immediately issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) on the shipment following the discovery of the illegal drugs.

Deputy Commissioner for Customs Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy hopes that his operation and previous ones send a clear message to the unscrupulous individuals, groups, and organizations behind the modus.

“This should serve as a warning that not only are we going to seize the products, but we are going to make arrests, too, and prosecute at the fullest extent of the law. We will hold smugglers and their partners accountable and pursue aggressive prosecution of these cases,” he 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 No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).