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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Balikbayan boxes from Thailand found to contain P76 million worth of marijuana

Balikbayan boxes from Thailand found to contain P76 million worth of marijuana

Published Feb 28, 2024 06:03 am

Balikbayan boxes that supposedly contained personal items from Thailand turned out to be hiding P76 million worth of dried marijuana.

The Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) on Tuesday, Feb. 27, examined the balikbayan boxes through an alert from the CIIS-Manila International Container Port and discovered over 63 kilos of dried marijuana.

The BOC said that the shipments were originally declared as balikbayan boxes and personal effects from Thailand.

“Based on the information we received, the alert order was issued against this shipment because of the suspected presence of illegal drugs. We found around 12 kilos of marijuana per balikbayan box during the inspection,” BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said.

A certain individual sent the balikbayan boxes to a resident of Dasmariñas, Cavite through Cargo Forwarders, the BOC reported.

“We are preparing the necessary documents to start looking into these individuals. Stopping the entry of these shipments into the country is one thing, but the bigger part of the operation is making sure someone is held accountable for such activity,” BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy said.

The investigation of the shipments was done by the BOC and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Philippine Coast Guard, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, Office of District Collector.

“The successful interdiction of illegal narcotics from entering our borders was possible because our officers continue to exhibit their experiences combined with the technology we now have. This operation shows our commitment to keeping illegal drugs off our communities because protecting the people is our duty,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.

The consignees, senders, and recipients of the balikbayan boxes will possibly face charges such as prohibited importation and exportation, misdeclaration of goods, and property subject to seizure and forfeiture under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.


The interception of illegal drugs, which is one of the top seized goods, may boost the Customs revenue collection to reach nearly the P1 trillion target for this year.

Last January, the bureau surpassed its revenue target of P71 billion by 2 percent, collecting over P73.329 billion. This was also higher by 4 percent from the P70.591 billion collected in the same month last year.

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