Airport authorities have seized two smuggled shipments of liquid marijuana at the Central Mail Exchange in Pasay City.
The first shipment was sent by a certain “Tan” of California, and was declared as “Cosmetic Beauty Cream” to avoid detection. The other was shipped by “Travis Arvin” from Oregon, also in the United States, and was declared as “video”.
The authorities did not identify the consignees pending a follow-up operation.
Joint elements of the Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency intercepted the shipments containing 21 pieces of vape cartridges with liquid marijuana.
Customs-NAIA turned over the illegal drugs and records to the PDEA for further investigation and case build-up against the importers and those responsible for the illegal importation.
Authorities say the importation of marijuana and its compounds, components and derivatives is still prohibited under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Customs NAIA frontliners are on a 24/7 work schedule even during weekends and holidays to collect government revenue, facilitate trade and guard the country’s borders against all fraudulent attempts to bring in illegal goods.
From 2018 to 2019, airport and Customs authorities were also able to arrest at least 15 foreigners for trying to smuggle cocaine and other prohibited drugs at the airport.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration was the one that tipped off government agents in the Philippines about the arrival of foreigners, mostly drug mules, in Manila.