As the holiday season approaches, Customs and airport authorities are intensifying their vigilance over balikbayan boxes, as criminal syndicates and unscrupulous individuals continue to exploit these shipments for smuggling illegal drugs.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced the seizure of two balikbayan boxes containing 75 sealed packs (39.325 kilograms) of hybrid cannabis or kush worth more than P55 million, concealed under sacks of rice.
The illegal drugs were discovered during a non-intrusive inspection followed by a 100% physical examination of a 40-foot container van carrying consolidated balikbayan boxes from Long Beach, California.
This operation, conducted in close coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement agencies, follows an earlier seizure of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth millions of pesos from the same consolidated shipment.
“The BOC will not allow our balikbayan boxes, symbols of love and care from Filipinos abroad, to be used as channels for illegal drugs,” Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.
The Customs bureau is heightening its alert against smuggled items intended for the so-called “ber months” or holiday season. The “ber months” period is critical for Customs because unscrupulous traders will try to find the opportunity to sneak in their illegal goods in time with the high volume of imports at the ports.
As the volume of such shipments increases during the holiday season, the bureau also reminds the public to be cautious in sending their packages and parcels. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and claimants are advised to support legitimate and accredited forwarders to avoid the possibility of being scammed by fly-by-night operators.
The bureau earlier established the Balikbayan Action Center (BAC) to protect shipments of OFWs and guarantee that balikbayan boxes are handled with integrity and efficiency.
The BAC reinforces the agency’s commitment to overseas Filipinos by addressing recurring concerns on balikbayan box processing and implementing reforms that restore confidence in customs procedures.
Its responsibilities include in-depth research and analysis of concerns related to balikbayan boxes in Customs processes, identifying best practices from other countries to improve efficiency, transparency, and fairness, exploring collaboration with other government agencies, and implementing initiatives necessary to fully address balikbayan box-related concerns.
