HIGH-GRADE marijuana (kush) weighing 712 grams and valued at approximately ₱1.068 million was seized by personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Clark and the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (CRK-IATFAID).
It was learned from BOC spokesman and deputy chief of staff Atty. Chris Noel Bendijo that the drugs were initially declared as “jeans” and were contained in a shipment from California, USA which arrived in the Philippines during the second week of January 2026 and bound for Batangas.
Bendijo said the parcel was flagged by the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) due to suspicious images and as a 100 percent physical examination was immediately conducted by Customs Examiners in the presence of operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other members of the CRK-IATFAID, said examination revealed a plastic bag containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be marijuana.
Adequate samples were taken and turned over to the PDEA for chemical analysis, which confirmed the presence of marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165, as amended.
Too, a Warrant of Seizure and Detention was issued against the shipment for violation of Section 118(g), Section 119(d), and Section 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) (3) and (4) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
District Collector Jairus S. Reyes stated that “This seizure reflects our firm resolve to keep our airport gateways secure and to prevent illegal drugs from reaching our communities.”
For his part, Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno stated that n line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s national security priorities, “Our officers, in close coordination with law enforcement partners, remain steadfast and vigilant, leaving no stone unturned in our mission to protect our borders.”
He added: ” By consistently pursuing this collective effort, we strive to create a safer environment for the public and keep our communities safe from illegal drugs.”
