Two parcels of vape cartridges containing liquid marijuana from the US were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City.
The first parcel was sent by a certain “Tan” from California and was misdeclared as “cosmetic beauty cream,” while the second parcel was from Oregon, sent by a certain “Travis Arvin” and misdelared as “video,” BOC said in a statement.
With strict profiling, BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) frontliners, together with PDEA and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, apprehended the two parcels, which were found to contain a total of 21 vape cartridges. The PDEA Chemical Laboratory confirmed that the seized vape cartridges contained tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, one of the chemical compounds found in marijuana.
PDEA reminded the public that importing marijuana and its compounds, components and derivatives is strictly prohibited under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
BOC-NAIA formally turned over the seized illegal drugs and relevant records to PDEA on October 9, 2020 for further profiling and case build-up against the importers and involved persons, who face possible prosecution for violation of RA 9165 in relation to Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
