Airport and Customs operatives arrested a San Juan City resident after he claimed his parcel containing P1.4 million worth of Marijuana or Kush Weeds at Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City Monday night.
The authorities did not identify the claimant for unknown reason but based on import documents, the package arrived on June 25 and was consigned to a certain Joseph Mariano.
“The seized (847.20 grams) Kush marijuana was found concealed inside tortilla chips package from Illinois, USA. Out personnel found the package suspicious due to its smell,” said Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Customs collector Carmelita Talusan.
She added the arrest was made possible through the continued vigilance of BoC-NAIA team in coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The arrested claimant will be charged with violation of Section 117, 1400 and 1113 of Republic Act 10863 (Customs Law) in relation to R.A. No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
Talusan warned the public against importing illegal goods as Customs and PDEA agents intensified their partnership in their anti-drug surveillance, intelligence, utilization of x-ray units and other equipment.
Two months ago, Customs agents also foiled an attempt of an international drug syndicate using the country’s postal system to smuggle liquid marijuana.
The authorities also arrested 27-year old Filipino-American Hamre Tamayo Orion Alfonso, of Wisconsin, USA and temporarily residing at Merville Subd., Paranaque City, after he claimed the parcel of 30 vape cartridge containing the prohibited liquid substance from China at CMEC.
Based on docuiments, one Michael Arash Abedzadeh of Shanghai, China sent to Alfonso the said parcel which he misdeclared as chocolates when it arrived at CMEC last March.
According to PDEA, shabu, marijuana and ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates.
The authorities vowed that the government’s crackdown on drug dealing in the country would continue with the goal of catching protectors and financiers of the illegal drug trade.