Ang Pahayagan

CLARK FREEPORT — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark, in coordination with the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (CRK-IATFAID), arrested three Chinese nationals and seized approximately ₱69.8 million worth of suspected marijuana at Clark International Airport.

The illegal drugs were discovered in three hand-carry bags belonging to the suspects who arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, and were scheduled to board a Hong Kong-bound flight.

During routine passenger profiling, the individuals were referred for X-ray screening. Suspicious images prompted authorities to conduct a 100 percent physical inspection of their baggage, which led to the discovery of 99 transparent vacuum-sealed plastic packs containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be marijuana, commonly known as “kush.”

Authorities recovered the 99 packs from the suspects’ hand-carry baggage, with a total weight of approximately 15,470 grams and an estimated standard value of ₱69,799,950.

K9 units from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) further confirmed the presence of illegal drugs. The suspects were subsequently arrested and charged for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and were informed of their rights under the law.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was also issued by District Collector Jairus S. Reyes for violations of Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs (f) and (l)(2) of Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, in relation to RA 9165.

The BOC – Port of Clark reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the country’s borders and strengthening efforts to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs through the nation’s ports of entry under the leadership of District Collector Reyes.