(Photo from BOC)
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Manila found P337 million worth of marijuana in 18 balikbayan boxes.
The BOC on Wednesday said the illegal shipment was found on March 7 in South Harbor.
The items were subjected to X-ray imaging, K-9 inspection and physical examination by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
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According to the BOC, five out of 18 balikbayan boxes had 122 packs or 132,100 grams of marijuana or kush worth P158 million.
The other 13 boxes contained 344 packs of marijuana worth P176 million, cannabis oil worth P2.4 million, and mushrooms worth P312,000.
The BOC added the forwarder and the owner of the boxes are under investigation for violations of laws against illegal drugs and customs laws.
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“We are dedicated to preventing smugglers from resorting to such tactics in the future. Safeguarding the integrity of balikbayan boxes, which hold significant meaning for us Filipinos, is crucial,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.
“Utilizing this tradition as a smuggling method is completely unacceptable, and we are committed to ensuring that such actions are thwarted,” he added.