The Bureau of Customs on Sunday reported that it seized P39 million worth of kush or dried marijuana leaves concealed in two balikbayan boxes that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from Canada.

According to the BoC, the said contraband was immediately seized after a 100 percent physical examination of the shipment on Wednesday, 5 February 2025.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) received the derogatory information and requested verification and inventory procedures to confirm the presence of illegal drugs.

The team, led by the BOC and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents, was able to confirm the presence of kush or dried marijuana in 108 pieces of vacuum-sealed pouches inside two balikbayan boxes.

BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said the use of the balikbayan boxes, which he described as a symbol of the Filipino diaspora, in a modus to bring illegal drugs into the country was concerning.

“I see balikbayan boxes as a symbol of the love and sacrifice of Filipino families so they can have a good life. For other Filipinos to use these in the illicit trade of drugs that destroy lives and communities is horrifying,” he said.

“Illegal drugs have no place in our Bagong Pilipinas. Smuggling of any kind is what we, in the Marcos administration, will work to pulverize and end with finality,” the commissioner added.

According to CIIS Director Verne Enciso, whose team received the derogatory information that led to the seizure, the balikbayan boxes were shipped through U Mac Forwarders Express Inc. by Riza Munar from Vancouver, Canada, to John Paul de Leon of San Mateo, Rizal.

They were originally declared to contain used household goods and personal effects from Canada.

“The physical examination of these boxes leaves no doubt that they shipped illegal drugs in the guise of used household items. The amount of marijuana we found will certainly hurt communities we swore to protect,” he said.

CCIIS-MICP chief Alvin Enciso shared that the first balikbayan box contained 56 vacuum-sealed plastic pouches with kush and one small plastic container with 60 unidentified tablets.

The kush found in the first box totaled more or less 14,672 grams, as there were 262 grams per pouch.

The second balikbayan box, he said, had 52 vacuum-sealed plastic pouches of kush with more or less 262 grams per pouch, totaling 13,624 grams.

Based on PDEA’s information, the estimated 28,296 grams found in the two balikbayan boxes have a total value of P39,614,400.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy commended the seizure of the balikbayan boxes, which were returned to their containers and secured with padlocks and seals.

“The commitment of our BOC officers and personnel to uphold public safety through these successful operations cannot be understated. They continue to be proactive and thorough, using their expertise, skills, and technology to stop contraband from crossing our borders,” he said.

The physical examination and small baggage x-ray scanning at the Designated Examination Areas-MICP were conducted by the assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by the CIIS, PDEA, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force (CAIDTF), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), and the Office of the District Collector (ODC).

The consignees, senders, and recipients of the shipment will also face charges under customs law for violating Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in the goods declaration concerning Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).