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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BOC seizes smuggled goods from Thailand, including marijuana

BOC seizes smuggled goods from Thailand, including marijuana

Published Apr 25, 2024 05:20 am

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated a shipment of 21,071 grams of dried marijuana, with an estimated value of P29.5 million, at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). 

According to the BOC, 74 boxes from Thailand arrived at the MICP last April 12 and were found to contain dried marijuana or kush during an inspection by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agents. 

“We are seeing this modus more and more these days of marijuana being shipped through balikbayan boxes, which have become symbols of the Filipino diaspora,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said in a statement on Thursday, April 25.

“It’s sad to think that this modus is using something ubiquitous to every Filipino family as a balikbayan box because it degrades what that box symbolizes for us,” he added.

 

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Agents of the CIIS-MICP account for marijuana found in a shipment declared as household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand during an inspection on April 24, 2024. The contraband worth almost P29.5 million was found in the illegal shipment.

 

On April 19, 23, and 24, physical examinations were conducted by the CIIS-MICP after receiving "derogatory information" that the shipment contained illegal drugs. 

According to the report from MICP, the shipment was declared to contain household items, shoes, and motor parts from Thailand. However, during the inspection, it was found that three out of the 74 boxes contained marijuana. 

The first box had around 6,400 grams of dried marijuana packed in 24 pieces of plastic pouch; the second box had some 9,771 grams packed in 42 pieces of plastic pouch; while the third box had more or less 4,900 grams packed in 22 pieces of plastic pouch, based on the BOC report.

The total 21,071 grams of dried marijuana has an estimated street value of P29,499,400.

The BOC has yet to finish the examination of the shipment, including the opening and unboxing, in the presence of agents from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Philippine Coast Guard, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The remaining boxes have been brought back to the container, which was secured with padlocks and seals for safekeeping.

The PDEA is also set to do confirmatory testing on the samples of suspected dried marijuana taken from the subject boxes, while the remaining boxes have been brought back to the container and were secured with padlocks and seals for safekeeping.

Related Tags

Bureau of Customs (BoC) Illegal drugs Bienvenido Y. Rubio
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