P29.5-M worth of Kush, smuggled goods from Thailand seized
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized some P29.5 million worth of dried marijuana or kush in a shipment from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
A 100 percent 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.
Three of the boxes have been opened to reveal the presence of 21,071 grams of marijuana during three inspections conducted by customs agents.
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.
Based on a report from the MICP field station, the shipment was declared to contain only household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand. But it was discovered that three of the 74 boxes contained marijuana.
The first box has more or less 6,400 grams of dried marijuana or kush packed in 24 plastic pouches; the second box has more or less 9,771 grams packed in 42 plastic pouches; and the third box has more or less 4,900 grams packed in 22 plastic pouches.
The estimated 21,071 grams of dried marijuana or kush has an estimated street value of P29,499,400.
The three consolidated boxes were consigned to a certain Wilma Bulahagui and Erickson Bulahagui.
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 consignees, senders, and recipients of the balikbayan boxes will be charged with 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).
