A whopping P101 million worth of marijuana shipment was seized by Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) that arrived on Tuesday at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

According to the report of Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy disclosed that the BOC-CIIS on Wednesday, they received derogatory information about the shipment, and immediately had it held in the Manila port following an order by BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio.

A 100 percent physical examination of five balikbayan boxes out of 136 balikbayan boxes was conducted on Tuesday and revealed some 72,178 grams of dried marijuana leaves that has an estimated street value of P101,049,200.

“The shipment, which totals to 136 balikbayan boxes, was originally declared to contain personal effects and household goods from Thailand. However, even before it arrived in our port, the CIIS-MICP already verified information that it possibly contained illegal drugs and other misdeclared and undeclared items,” Uy said.

According to BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso, the five balikbayan boxes that were subjected to inspection and examination on Tuesday were marked as beauty products, assorted shoes, and assorted dresses.

“So far, we found that the five balikbayan boxes all contain several sealed plastic pouches that have what looks like dried leaves inside. We’re currently in the process of inspecting and making an inventory of the rest of the balikbayan boxes,” he said.

The five balikbayan boxes, each with two medium boxes inside, carried 138 total heat-sealed transparent plastic bag with an estimated total weight of 72,178 grams of suspected "kush" or dried marijuana leaves.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents took samples of the suspected dried marijuana leaves for confirmatory testing at the PDEA laboratory.

While the full inventory of the remaining boxes are still ongoing, the five master balikbayan boxes were returned to the container van and secured with padlocks and seals.

The consignees, senders, and recipients of the shipment will face charges under the customs law for violating Section 118 (prohibited importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in the goods declaration in relation to 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).