
Anti-narcotics agents seized around P101 million worth of marijuana during an interdiction operation at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Tuesday, April 29, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
In a statement, the PDEA said that the operation occurred at the Designated Examination Area (DEA), Container Facility Station 3 (CFS3) of the MICP.
During the operation, the authorities discovered 138 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic bags containing more or less 72,178 kilos of marijuana inside an abandoned container.
The items were placed in five balikbayan boxes from Thailand with the shipper and receiver involved are now the subject of an investigation.
PDEA Regional Office National Capital (RO-NCR) Director Emerson R Rosales warned the public that importing illegal drugs into the country is prohibited and may face a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10,000,000.
The shipper and receiver face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.’’