In its relentless campaign against the smuggling of illegal drugs, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Port of Clark, successfully intercepted 538 grams of high-grade marijuana, or “kush,” with an estimated value of ₱807,000.
The seized contraband, which was concealed inside a parcel declared as “keychains,” was determined to have originated from Hong Kong and was bound for Biñan, Laguna.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended the vigilance of Port of Clark personnel and partner agencies for their swift action.
“This successful seizure demonstrates our unyielding resolve in preventing the entry of illegal drugs into the country.”
“This successful seizure, through the coordinated efforts of the BOC and partner enforcement agencies, demonstrates our unyielding resolve in preventing the entry of illegal drugs into the country,” Nepomuceno said.
“We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to protect our people and uphold public safety,” the customs chief added.
The parcel arrived on November 15, 2025, and was flagged by the BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) due to suspicious images revealed during scanning.
On November 19, operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a K-9 sniff test, which yielded positive indications for narcotics. A full physical examination followed, revealing two boxes of “Labubu” keychains. Each box contained two transparent sealed pouches filled with dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be high-grade marijuana.
Samples submitted to PDEA for chemical analysis confirmed the substance as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana and a dangerous drug under Republic Act No. 9165, as amended.
District Collector Jairus Reyes praised the vigilance and profiling skills of the Port’s frontline officers.
“The Port of Clark maintains a heightened watch against any form of drug smuggling. Our proactive operations safeguard the public from the harms of illegal drugs and contribute to building safer communities.”
“The Port of Clark maintains a heightened watch against any form of drug smuggling. Our proactive operations safeguard the public from the harms of illegal drugs and contribute to building safer communities,” Reyes said.
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 Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), in relation to R.A. No. 9165.
