Parcels with P8.55 million marijuana intercepted at Naia mail center

Authorities discovered marijuana kush valued at P8.55 million in 10 abandoned parcels at the Central Mail Exchange Center at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Friday morning, June 13, 2025. (Photo from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency)

MANILA, Philippines — Marijuana kush valued at P8.55 million was intercepted in parcels found abandoned at the Central Mail Exchange Center at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

Authorities made the discovery on Friday morning, locating the drugs, which weigh about a total of 5.7 kilograms, in 10 abandoned parcels, PDEA detailed in a statement.

“The parcels had been shipped from various addresses in Thailand and were bound for multiple recipients across Metro Manila and one in Iloilo,” the agency said.

“The seized parcels were deceptively labeled as items like women’s scarves, rice, dried fruit, and baby toys that attempt to fly under the radar of law enforcement,” it added.

READ: P16.25-M suspected drugs seized from packages in Naia

The packages were inspected after they were tagged as abandoned for an unspecified number of months without a claimant. They were subjected to a K9 inspection upon an order from the Bureau of Customs, PDEA explained.

The agency said authorities made no arrests, but the drug evidence had been sent to the PDEA Laboratory Service for examination as part of preparations to file charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act./coa