A combined team of Customs and anti-illegal drugs agents have arrested a 28-year-old male suspect for alleged attempt to smuggle into the country banned marijuana oil estimated at P392,500 through the Port of Clark in Pampanga.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the contraband was falsely declared as candles, but laboratory tests and K-9 sniffing showed that the shipment contained illegal substance.
The name of the claimant was withheld pending investigation.
Examinations conducted by the team composed of operatives of the BOC and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yielded 12 plastic sachets containing 5,888 grams of marijuana oil, also known as tetrahydrocannabinoid.
A seizure and detention warrant was subsequently issued against the shipment.
A follow-up operation conducted by the team in Mabalacat City, Pampanga led to the arrest of the consignee.
BOC district collector Erastus Sandino Austria cited the port’s dedication in stopping illegal drug smuggling, ensuring strict border security at the Port of Clark.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio reaffirmed the BOC’s commitment to curb smuggling in all forms, highlighting enhanced training and technology in all ports, as aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-smuggling directives and Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto’s mandate to protect public welfare.