• The Bureau of Customs Port of Clark and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency intercepted P1.89 million worth of high-grade marijuana disguised as ink toners
• The shipment arrived from Sacramento, USA, and was bound for Surigao del Norte
• The BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project flagged the package labeled “Ink Toners” for further inspection, revealing 12 plastic sachets of marijuana hidden inside a black PVC cylinder and concealed with adhesive spray foam
• Upon testing, the substance was confirmed as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of marijuana
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Clark and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently intercepted P1.89 million worth of high-grade marijuana.
The package, which originated from Sacramento, USA, and bound for Surigao del Norte, was flagged during an X-ray scan conducted by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP). Further examination of the brown rectangular box labeled “Ink Toners” revealed a black PVC cylinder containing 12 sachets of compressed marijuana, which had been concealed with adhesive spray foam to evade detection, the BOC said in a statement.
Upon testing by PDEA, the substance was confirmed as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of marijuana.
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the contraband for violations of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The operation underscored BOC’s commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-illegal drug campaign, according to the bureau.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio reaffirmed the agency’s efforts to enhance border security and “maintain the integrity of the country’s trade system.” He highlighted the importance of “modernization, strategic enforcement, and inter-agency collaboration in strengthening national security and protecting the welfare of the Filipino people.”
“By continuously improving the skills and expertise of our employees, we can better equip them to detect, prevent, and intercept illicit activities while ensuring seamless trade facilitation,” said Port of Clark District Collector Jairus S. Reyes, highlighting the importance of enhancing customs enforcement capabilities through continuous training and capacity-building.
