P4.6M worth of high-grade marijuana seized at Port of Clark

Authorities inspect the high-grade Kush marijuana discovered at the Port of Clark. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Customs)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized some P4.6 million worth of high-grade Kush marijuana in separate inspections at the Port of Clark inside the Clark Freeport Zone on Oct. 18 and 21.

In a statement, the BOC said some P1.57 million worth of Kush was found concealed in garments on Monday.

“The inspection was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group, National Bureau of Investigation Pampanga District Office, Department of Justice, and barangay officials of Dau (in Mabalacat City),” it said.

The BOC said the shipment was declared as “Men’s Track Suit, Polyester Men’s Cotton Shorts” and was flagged for examination by X-ray after unusual images were detected.

“A K-9 sniff test also indicated the presence of illegal substances. During the physical examination, authorities uncovered four vacuum-sealed pouches containing high-grade marijuana, or ‘Kush’,” it said.

On Oct. 18, the BOC said some P3.08 million worth of Kush was also intercepted at the Port of Clark.

“The shipment arrived on October 14, 2024, and was flagged for physical examination by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project,” it said, adding that a drug-sniffing dog was also used to verify the presence of illegal drugs.

After a physical inspection, authorities discovered two vacuum-sealed bags and two plastic bags with dried marijuana leaves and fruiting tops, also suspected to be high-grade marijuana.

“Samples were taken and turned over to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis, which confirmed the substances as marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under R.A. No. 9165, as amended,” it added.

On Oct. 14, the BOC discovered some 4,891 pieces of ecstasy or parry drug tablets concealed inside a box of espresso capsules and three boxes of coffee beans. They were mixed with coffee beans, apparently to confuse drug-sniffing dogs.

But the X-ray showed suspicious images, prompting authorities to inspect them.

“The Ecstasy tablets were concealed among the coffee beans inside the three boxes, which had been shipped from the Netherlands,” the BOC said.