The BOC Port of Clark busted an attempt to smuggle 1,028 grams of High Grade Marijuana or Kush Marijuana worth P1,696,200.00 on May 5, 2023.

Initially tagged as suspicious by the X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) personnel, the shipment, which was declared to contain “cooking articles illegible,” was subjected to K9 sniffing by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) K9 Unit. The K9 Unit gave positive indications for the presence of dangerous drugs.

A physical examination was immediately conducted by the assigned Customs Examiner in the presence of the media, a barangay kagawad, and representatives from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, XIP, and PDEA.

The examination led to the discovery of two vacuum-sealed transparent plastic sheets containing dried leaves, buds, and fruiting tops. Samples were taken to the PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis, which were later identified as Tetrahydrocannabinol/Marijuana, a dangerous drug under Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention will be issued against the shipment for the violation of Section 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 par. (f), (I), and (l)-(3) and (4) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to RA No. 9165.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio, the Port of Clark is committed to further intensify its anti-smuggling measures to prevent the entry of dangerous drugs into the country.