MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized high-grade marijuana valued at more than P55 million concealed inside balikbayan boxes shipped from the United States.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the contraband — identified as “kush,” a potent strain of marijuana—was intercepted during the examination of a 40-foot container truck from Long Beach, California. Two balikbayan boxes flagged during non-intrusive scanning and subsequent physical inspection yielded 75 sealed packs of marijuana hidden beneath sacks of rice. The haul weighed 39.3 kilograms and had an estimated street value of P55,055,000.
The operation, carried out with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement units, came just weeks after authorities discovered millions of pesos’ worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in another consolidated shipment.
“The BOC will not allow balikbayan boxes, symbols of love and care from Filipinos abroad, to be used as channels for illegal drugs,” Nepomuceno said.
Authorities said the shipment violated Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as well as provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act on prohibited importations and forfeitable property.
The seized items are now under the custody of PDEA for further investigation and case build-up against those behind the smuggling attempt.
