Bureau of Customs (BOC) | FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Dried marijuana leaves and smuggled vape products worth P102 million, contained again in balikbayan boxes from Thailand, have been intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Reports from the BOC on Wednesday showed that a physical examination of the shipment at the MICP on April 2, Tuesday, showed that out of the 200 balikbayan boxes, drug-sniffing dogs from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) identified five boxes as probable for marijuana content.
When the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agents inspected the boxes, around 82 kilograms of suspected dried marijuana leaves or kush, and 1,881 pieces of disposable vape pens laced with cannabis.
“There were 200 balikbayan boxes in the shipment. Out of those 200, our K9 dogs indicated that five balikbayan boxes may be positive for the presence of illegal substances. Upon opening these boxes, we found marijuana or kush and vapes with cannabis content,” CIIS Director Verne Enciso said in a statement.
According to Enciso, the physical examination on Tuesday was conducted after his office issued an alert order against the shipment last February 28, 2024, due to derogatory information.
The shipment was said to be consigned to Marcelo D. Laylo Cargo Forwarders, with a certain Gerard Cruz labeled as the recipient.
BOC said they discovered the following illegal items in the balikbayan boxes:
- First balikbayan box: 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
- Second balikbayan box: 12 transparent pouches with approximately 500 grams of kush; one small box with 47 pieces of vape; and one medium box with 782 pieces of vape
- Third balikbayan box: two medium boxes with 12 clear pouches with approximately 500 grams of kush each; two small boxes with 45 pieces of vape in each box
- Fourth balikbayan box: one box containing 11 black pouches with approximately 500 grams of kush; another box with 782 pieces of vape
- Fifth balikbayan box: one medium box with 22 clear pouches and another one with 72 clear pouches, all with approximately 500 grams of kush inside; two small boxes with 45 pieces of vape in each
Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio and Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy meanwhile assured the public that they are doing everything to determine who is behind the usage of balikbayan boxes to smuggle drugs.
“For Filipino families, balikbayan boxes symbolize their love and longing for their loved ones. Unfortunately, it is now being used by unscrupulous individuals to smuggle in illegal drugs, vapes, and many other items. Here in the BOC, we want to assure our kababayans that we’re working hard to get to the bottom of this,” Rubio said.
“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of what our officers do on the ground. This latest operation is a testament to that, as well as proof that our ongoing border security mission is disrupting the flow of these smuggled items, making it harder for these organizations to bend our laws to their will,” Uy added.
This is not the first time that BOC found marijuana stashed inside balikbayan boxes. Last February 28, the bureau found the illegal substance in a set of packages that also came from Thailand.
A total of 12 kilograms of kush were discovered inside the shipment was consigned to the same forwarding company, and was supposed to be sent to an individual from Cavite.
READ: BOC: P76-M marijuana from Thailand seized
Then on March 13, BOC reported two other incidents of dried marijuana leaves found in Balikbayan boxes from Thailand: one in which the illegal substance was said to be worth P238 million, and another where the marijuana leaves was estimated to have a street value of P337 million.
READ: BOC discovers packages of kush worth P238 million
BOC said that after the inspection, the items were returned to the container van, which was then sealed and padlocked for safekeeping. These will be turned over to the PDEA after full inventory.
Also, the commission said consignees, senders, and recipients of the balikbayan boxes may 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 other sections of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.