Over P20-M suspected ‘kush’ intercepted

Operatives from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) seized approximately P29 million worth of suspected marijuana and kush oil hidden inside two balikbayan boxes that arrived from Canada.

The BoC disclosed that the seizure — which occurred last 7 March 2025 at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) — highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling despite tightened port security.

The balikbayan boxes, declared to contain used household goods and personal effects, were consigned to a residence in General Trias, Cavite, according to the BoC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).

BoC officials condemned the use of balikbayan boxes for smuggling illegal drugs, calling it an insult to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who traditionally send these boxes to their families.

“Balikbayan boxes are very Filipino,” the BoC said in a statement. “This is ingrained into our culture and our tradition that wherever we are, we send balikbayan boxes back to our loved ones here in the Philippines because it shows we care.”

Meantime, CIIS director Verne Enciso said the boxes underwent a 100 percent physical examination at the MICP’s Designated Examination Area after the bureau received “derogatory information.”

“The examination found a total of 20,990 grams of kush and one liter of liquid substance we suspect to be kush oil,” Enciso said.

The first box contained 9,809 grams of kush in 20 vacuum-sealed plastic pouches and one liter of liquid substance. The second box contained 11,181 grams of kush in 23 vacuum-sealed plastic pouches.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs is P29,386,000, Enciso said.

The examination was witnessed by representatives from the CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Coast Guard, X-ray Inspection Project, and Office of the District Collector.

Samples of the suspected marijuana were turned over to PDEA for confirmatory testing.

Deputy commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, on the other hand, stressed the importance of the BoC’s border security mission.

“We must always remember that our mandate is not only to protect the country from dangerous narcotics, but to also prevent these illegal substances from reaching our communities,” Uy said. “Operations like this also take drug traffickers out from the streets, hurt drug trafficking organizations and take profits away from them.”