The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has arrested a suspect for allegedly bringing into the Philippines a package of marijuana (cannabis) oil, also known as kush oil, with an estimated street value of about P360,000.
On February 28, 24-year-old Beau Aldrich D. Siquian tried to claim the package containing two pouches at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. BOC-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reported that one of the pouches belonged to a certain Gian Carlo Santos of Baguio City.
Siquian, with a declared address of 302 Sto. Rosario St., Brgy. Plainview, Mandaluyong City, presented a valid Philippine passport in claiming the package. The parcel arrived in the country February 26 and came from a certain Jonjon L. Pulido of 22327 #01 Moneta Ave., Carson, California.
The suspect had declared the contents as electrical pen set/ink wax with a declared value of $300.
The package was subjected to 100% physical examination in front of the claimant as part of BOC’s protocol.
“The customs examiner in charge found items as declared; however, the pungent odor of the items prompted the examiner to conduct further verification,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a statement.
The package was referred to BOC’s Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Taskforce and NAIA-Interagency Drug Interdiction Task Group for canine examination and field-testing, and it turned out to be positive for cannabis.
Also present during the inspection were agents from BOC-NAIA X-ray Inspection Project and Enforcement and Security Service.
“These drug pushers are exhausting all means to smuggle illegal drugs in the country. They even send drugs through couriers,” Lapeña said.
“I have directed BOC-NAIA to examine all suspicious packages and be strict in document checking. There will be more apprehensions by the Bureau of Customs as we are implementing stricter border security,” Lapena added.
The suspect and the seized drugs were turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for further investigation.
