The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark seized 460 grams “kush” or high-grade marijuana worth P759,000 in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Pampanga District Office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Brgy. Officials of Dau, among others.
The shipment was declared as “Signed and Framed Sports Illustrated Magazine.” The BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) flagged it for physical examination after detecting unusual images. A K-9 sniff test further indicated the presence of illegal substances. Authorities discovered one piece of a transparent self-sealing pouch containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued for the shipment for violating Section 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs f, i, and l (3 and 4) of R.A. No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
District Collector Erastus Sandino B. Austria commended the personnel for their consistent dedication to upholding the BOC’s mandate to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs.
As directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio emphasized the Bureau’s steadfast dedication to protecting the country from the perils of illicit drugs, saying: “BOC vows to prevent smuggling and protect the country’s borders and our citizens’ well-being against the dangers of illegal substances that intend to penetrate our communities.”
