BOC seizes P17.169M worth 'kush' marijuana concealed in sofas

Operatives of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Port District of Clark have seized P17.169 million worth of high-grade marijuana concealed in two pieces of one-seater sofas.

In a news release on Friday, the BOC said the seizure of the high-grade marijuana resulted from a joint inspection with  the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Pampanga District Office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and barangay officials of Dau.

The Customs said the shipment arrived on August 6, 2024 and was declared as two pieces of one-seat sofa.

It was marked for inspection by BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) after revealing unusual images. A K-9 sniff test also indicated the presence of illegal substances. 

Upon physical inspection, the BOC said, authorities uncovered approximately 10.5 kilos of 23 self-sealing transparent plastic sachets containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana, also known as “kush.”

The Customs said the samples were then taken and turned over to PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis, which confirmed that the said substances were indeed marijuana, a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued for the shipment for violating Section 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs f, i, and l (3 and 4) of R.A. No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.

“BOC pledges to prevent smuggling and protect the country’s borders and our citizens’ well-being against the dangers and ill-effects of illegal drugs and substances,” said BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio. —Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA Integrated News