BOC seizes P158.7 million kush in balikbayan boxes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs has confiscated 132.3 kilos of dried kush valued at P158.7 million smuggled into the country in six balikbayan boxes sent from Thailand, a BOC official said yesterday.

In a statement, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the kush, a type of high-grade marijuana, were reportedly consigned to Mary Gail Quesada and Rainier Quesada via the Marcelo Laylo Cargo Forwarders.

The BOC said the consignees, senders and recipients of the six balikbayan boxes face criminal charges of violating Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Rubio said the packs of kush were discovered by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) during the physical examination of the balikbayan boxes at the Manila International Container Port on March 18.

BOC-CIIS director Verne Enciso said their office received a tip about the consolidated shipment, prompting them to request the issuance of an alert order on Feb. 28.

The BOC said it has forwarded confirmatory samples to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, while all six balikbayan boxes were returned to the shipping container for safekeeping.