Joint operatives of the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group conducted controlled delivery operation that led to the arrest of two claimants of P16.8 million high grade marijuana or kush.
Two claimants were arrested by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) following an intercepted balikbayan box which contained 12 kilograms of high grade dried marijuana leaves at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The BoC said the consignees were apprehended during a joint controlled delivery operations on February 11 in Antipolo, Rizal.
The bureau said the parcel arrived in Port of NAIA as personal effects from California, USA on January 13.
During x-ray screening and physical examination at the PairCargo warehouse where the parcel was stored, agents discovered suspected dried leaves.
Upon examination by operatives of Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), it turned out to be high grade marijuana also known as kush, similar to what the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla brought in just recently.
The BoC said the seized items worth P16.8 million are now under the custody of PDEA, while the claimants, which authorities did not identify, are currently undergoing custodial investigation.
They will be charged with violating Republic Act No. 916, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The operation, according to the bureau, was in coordination with PDEA and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
The government agencies said they will intensify vigilance against entry of illegal goods to prevent smuggling in our borders.
Tags: #seizedhighgrademarijuana, #governmentjointoperatives, #suspectsapprehension, #12kilogramskush, #Illegaldrugs, #BoC, #PDEA, #NAIA