By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Officials from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark have successfully seized a shipment containing 1 kilogram of high-grade marijuana, more commonly known as “kush”, and 10 pieces of cannabis-infused disposable vapes which are worth P1.6 million.
The parcel, declared as a “Tub Shower Faucet Set,” originated from Arizona, United States, and was bound for Quezon City. It was flagged through enhanced profiling and x-ray scanning by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) after revealing suspicious images.
Upon physical examination of the parcel, a vacuum-sealed plastic black bag containing 30 disposable vape pens were discovered by the authorities, ten of which were confirmed to be laced with cannabis.
Moreover, three transparent plastic packs containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana were found concealed within the package.
Chemical analysis from samples turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have positively identified the presence of marijuana, which is classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165, as amended.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued against the shipment for violating Section 118(g), Section 119(d), and Section 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) of R.A. No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
This successful operation is the latest in a spate of intercepted shipments that were confirmed by Customs officials to contain illicit goods and contraband, in line with the intensified anti-drug and anti-smuggling campaign of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
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