BUREAU of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno lauded the BOC-NAIA for having successfully intercepted 151,334 grams of suspected high-grade marijuana or kush at the NAIA Terminal 3 on September 7, 2025, thus marking the largest kush apprehension in the history of the BOC-NAIA.
“This significant interception highlights our intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and secure our borders. The Bureau of Customs will remain vigilant and steadfast in preventing illegal drugs from entering the country,” said Nepomuceno.
District Collector Alexandra Lumontad meanwhile stated that “this accomplishment demonstrates the importance of strict enforcement measures and strong inter-agency collaboration. BOC-NAIA remains committed to ensuring that our airports are not exploited by drug syndicates.”
She stated that the major interdiction underscores BOC-NAIA’s crucial role in protecting national security and public safety, and reaffirms the Bureau’s unwavering commitment to fight the proliferation of illegal drugs through proactive border enforcement.
In a report to Nepomuceno, it was learned that the said illegal drugs were found in six checked-in baggage belonging to two Filipino passengers arriving from Bangkok, Thailand via Cebu Pacific Flight 53932.
During routine passenger profiling, the baggage was directed for x-ray screening. Suspicious images prompted for 100% physical inspection, revealing multiple transparent packs of suspected kush.
The K9 units of the PDEA then confirmed the presence of illegal drugs and the suspects were arrested for violating RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) after being informed of their rights under the law.
A subsequent inventory confirmed the total haul at 151,334 grams, with a street value of ₱227 million.
Both the seized drugs and suspects were turned over to PDEA for proper investigation and disposition. This effort has been made possible through coordination with the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).
