BOC: P29.5 million kush seized at Manila port

MANILA, Philippines — A shipment containing P29.5 million worth of dried marijuana or kush stashed in 74 balikbayan boxes from Thailand was intercepted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced yesterday.

According to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, the drug shipment, which arrived at the MICP on April 12, was misdeclared as household items, shoes and motor parts.

It was reportedly consigned to Philippians 419 Export and Import General Merchandise Corp.

BOC-MICP district collector Carmelita Talusan issued a warrant of seizure and detention for the shipment.

Members of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service inspected three of the 74 balikbayan boxes, which reportedly contained 21,071 grams of marijuana.

The three boxes were reportedly consigned to Wilma Bulahagui and Erickson Bulahagui.

CIIS personnel inspected the items after receiving “derogatory information” that the shipment contained illegal drugs.

Rubio said the BOC has recorded several incidents of illegal drugs being smuggled into the country in balikbayan boxes.

“We are seeing this modus of marijuana being shipped through balikbayan boxes, which have become symbols of the Filipino diaspora,” he said.

“It’s sad to think that this scheme is using something ubiquitous to every Filipino family, a balikbayan box, because it degrades what that box symbolizes for us,” Rubio added.

The consignees, senders and recipients of the balikbayan boxes may face charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act as well as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.