PDEA: P216K marijuana hash oil seized from US package declared as tea
By Chito Chavez
Anti-illegal drugs operatives seized a total of P216,000 worth of cannabis oil on Thursday night, May 19, from a male claimant who allegedly accepted a suspicious package from the United States.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that consignee Ernest John Almazan, 36, of Makati City, was arrested after claiming the package in a controlled delivery operation around 9 p.m. at Lane R, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Investigators said the parcel containing 2.7 liters of marijuana hash oil emanated from Monterey Park, United States and arrived at the Port of Clark last May 9.
"The illegal substances were contained in three glass bottles and were declared as drinking tea. The parcel underwent the process of x-ray, K9 sniffing and field examination using Rigaku Progeny that led to its discovery", the PDEA said in a statement.
“Hash is the most potent and concentrated form of cannabis. It contains high levels of tetra hydro cannabinoid (THC), much higher than marijuana,’’ the PDEA explained.
The operation was conducted by operatives of the PDEA Central Luzon, PDEA Clark Inter Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Clark, PDEA-NCR and the local police.
Almazan faces charges for violation of Section 4 (importation of dangerous drugs), Article II of Republic Act (RA) 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.’’