As part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal substances in the country under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Bureau of Customs (BOC), successfully intercepted and seized 914 grams of marijuana concealed within assorted items from Bangkok, Thailand, with an estimated value of PhP1,371,000.00.

The seizure stemmed from derogatory information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) prompting the assigned examiner to conduct a full physical examination of the shipment upon arrival at the airport.

The shipment was declared as “Food Spices, Condiments, and Groceries”. Examination resulted in the discovery of 914 grams of marijuana concealed in assorted packages. The shipment contained 26 packages with a powdery substance and four (4) packages with dried leaves and fruiting tops. Samples were taken and turned over to the PDEA for chemical analysis, which confirmed the substance as tetrahydrocannabinol or marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under R.A. No. 9165, as amended.

The success of this operation is attributed to the coordinated and effective efforts of the Port of Clark – Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group, the National Bureau of Investigation-Pampanga District Office, the Department of Justice, and local officials of Brgy. Dau, City of Mabalacat.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was subsequently issued against the shipment for violations of Sections 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 paragraphs f, i, and l (3 and 4) of R.A. No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165, as amended.

District Collector Jairus Reyes reiterated the Port of Clark’s commitment to the BOC’s anti-drug efforts, in line with Customs Commissioner Bienvenido R. Rubio’s priority agenda, to curb smuggling in all its forms, ultimately bolstering national security and prioritizing the welfare of the Filipinos.

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