Authorities seized more than P2 million worth of high-grade marijuana during a controlled delivery operation which also led to the arrest of the consignee of the smuggled item in Marikina City on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
The controlled delivery operation was conducted by joint operatives of the Bureau of Customs, airport authorities and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after they discovered the high-grade marijuana hidden inside the boxes pf cookies and toys at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The items were consigned to a certain Arthur Antonio who was arrested after receiving the items when it was delivered by PDEA and Customs operatives who posed as delivery boys.
The shipment was declared as cookies, balloons, toys and school supplies. It was shipped from California, USA.
Examination revealed that the package contained 1.8 kilos of Kush or high-grade marijuana with an estimated market value of P 2.198 million.
The suspect is now facing charges of violation of Section 1114 of Republic Act 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and RA 9165 also known as the Anti-illegal Drugs Act.