The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), successfully intercepted 28.296 kilograms of high-grade marijuana, commonly known as Kush, with an estimated value of PhP39.6 million. The illegal drugs were discovered inside a consolidated shipment of balikbayan boxes that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Canada.

A 100% physical examination and small baggage x-ray scanning was conducted on February 5, 2025, which yielded 108 vacuum-sealed pouches of suspected Kush hidden in two balikbayan boxes. This inspection was led by the assigned customs examiner and witnessed by representatives from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), PDEA, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), and the Office of the District Collector (ODC).

Under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the government has intensified efforts to combat drug smuggling and dismantle illegal drug networks. The President has also continuously reiterated the importance of strict customs enforcement and inter-agency cooperation in thwarting illicit activities that may endanger the future of the youth and millions of Filipinos.

Following the discovery, PDEA personnel conducted confirmatory testing on the samples taken from the intercepted contraband. The balikbayan boxes were subsequently resealed and secured within the container van for further investigation and institution of seizure and legal proceedings.

MICP District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba affirmed the port’s role as a frontline defense against illicit trade in congruence with the BOC’s strategic enforcement policies, saying, “We will continue to enhance our monitoring and intelligence-sharing efforts to effectively curb drug smuggling and other illegal activities.”

Individuals involved in this illicit activity may face severe penalties under R.A. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and R.A. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Recognizing the operation’s success, Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio underscored the BOC’s firm stance against drug smuggling. “This seizure exemplifies the effectiveness of our intensified enforcement protocols and intelligence-driven strategies. We will continue to strengthen our vigilance to protect our borders and prevent the entry of illegal drugs into the country,” he stated.