ALERT operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) intercepted another huge shipment of high-grade (‘kush’) marijuana at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), its second major seizure of the contraband from Thailand for this year.
In a statement last April 25, 2024, the BOC said that CIIS-MICP Field Station chief, Alvin Enciso, requested district collector Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan, to authorize the 100-percent examination of the shipment consisting of several ‘balikbayan’ boxes from Thailand declared as ‘household goods.’
With the participation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Enciso said the examination conducted last April 19, 2024, resulted to the discovery of more than 21 kilos of kush marijuana valued at P29.499 million.
It can be recalled that last February 27, 2024, CIIS-MICP also intercepted a shipment from Thailand also containing kush marijuana weighing 63.6 kilos valued at more than P76 million (see related article here).
MJ, cannabis oil held at CMEC-NAIA
In a separate statement on April 29, 2024, the BOC also announced the confiscation of some 2.5 kilos of kush marijuana and 70 pieces of e-cigarette vape pens containing cannabis (marijuana) oil with the aggregate value placed at P3.55 million.
Atty. Yasmin Mapa, NAIA district collector, in her report to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said the drug shipment consisting of 5 parcels declared as ‘car seat cover, coffee mugs, and books’ came from the United States and Canada. They were seized at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City.
The BOC said further investigation is being conducted in both incidents to identify the consignees and other persons of interest who would be charged in court for violation of customs laws and RA 9165 or the ‘Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.’