P5-M kush concealed as frozen broccoli seized in Clark

CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES recently intercepted 3.8 kg. of kush or high-grade marijuana concealed as "freeze dried broccoli" worth PHP5.84 million at the Port of Clark.

In a news release Friday, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the contraband was found inside pouches labeled as "Cirsoy Broccoli" after derogatory information from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) alerted customs authorities about the shipment, which arrived on March 26.

Customs examiners and PDEA operatives on March 27 conducted a K-9 sniff test, which yielded a positive indication for illegal drugs, thus prompted a full physical examination of the parcel, which revealed 32 self-sealing packs.

He added that each pouch was found to contain fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana.

Samples were taken and turned over to PDEA for chemical analysis, which confirmed the substance as marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended.

A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violating Section 118(g), Section 119(d), and Section 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l) of RA 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to RRA 9165.

Smuggled goods

On Thursday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives seized four container vans containing alleged smuggled goods in Paranaque, Valenzuela and Bocaue, Bulacan.

The CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit and the Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime (OSETC) served five search warrants that led to the confiscation of the misdeclared, undervalued, and misclassified goods brought out from the Port of Manila.

The operation stemmed from a complaint lodged before the OSETC and endorsed to the CIDG for appropriate investigation.

According to the Philippine National Police-CIDG, the misdeclaration of goods “not only constitutes a violation of law but also undermines fair trade and economic stability.”

“Authorities are continuing their investigation, and appropriate legal action will be taken against those responsible,” it said. (Ferdinand Patinio/Lloyd Caliwan)