BOC intercepts P38.8M worth of marijuana at Manila port

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Sunday it intercepted P38.8-million worth of dried marijuana at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Thailand.

According to the BOC, the shipment was supposedly declared as plastic tableware, kitchenware, blankets, men’s shoes, among others products. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) said it received information that it contained “illegal drugs, misdeclared, and undeclared items.”

“Initial x-ray scanning of the shipment last July 31 and August 1 resulted in the detection of suspected dried marijuana inside 78 boxes,” CIIS Director Verne Enciso said.

“This was further confirmed during the 100% physical examination last August 2, wherein a total of 99 pieces of heat-sealed packages were found to contain marijuana,” he added. 

The BOC said the marijuana was specifically identified inside one large box that had 27 pieces of heat-sealed plastic packages; one king-sized box containing 40 pieces of heat-sealed plastic packages; and one king-sized box filled with 32 pieces of heat-sealed plastic packages.

Enciso said the estimated value of the marijuana found in all the three boxes is P38,808,000.

He identified the shipment sender as a certain Wilma Bulahagui and an Erickson Bulahagui as the recipient.

The seizure came following the request of the CIIS field station at the MICP for the 100% physical examination for a shipment consigned to Philippians 4:19 Export and Import Gen. Mdse. on May 10 after receiving “derogatory information about the contents of the shipment.”

After the inspection of the boxes which was witnessed by the CIIS, the Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the suspected items were returned to the container van, which was then sealed and padlocked for safekeeping.

An inventory and sample-taking will be conducted by PDEA for confirmatory testing.

The physical examination of the remaining 75 boxes will continue on Monday, August 5.

In a statement, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio underscored the BOC’s commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive of cracking down the illegal drug trade. “Even as these smugglers and illegal drug traders try to step up their game, I want to assure our people that the BOC is well-positioned and well-equipped to detect and stop the entry of drugs in our country,” he said.

In his third State of the Nation Address, Marcos touted his administration's campaign against illegal drugs, declaring that it did not include killings.

Despite this "bloodless" drug war, Marcos said his administration's campaign has resulted in the seizure of P44 billion worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of more than 97,000 drug personalities in its more than 71,500 operations.—Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News