P357K IMPORTED MARIJUANA MISDECLARED AS  MEN’S SWEATER SEIZED AT PORT OF CLARK

BY KEVIN GALANG

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Authorities intercepted at least 238.3 grams of kush or “high-grade” marijuana worth P357,450 from the United States at the Port of Clark.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Clark Airport Interdiction Unit, the “high-grade” marijuana originated from California, USA, and arrived at the Port of Clark on May 1.

The illegal substance was concealed in a package misdeclared as “men’s sweater” and was seized in an operation at the Port of Clark on May 14.

The operation emanated from an information relayed by foreign counterparts to PDEA International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service (ICFAS), saying a parcel containing kush from Woodland Hills, California, was en route at the Port of Clark. 

The information was passed on by PDEA Intelligence Service (PDEA-IS) to PDEA Regional Office 3, which led to the successful interdiction operation.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Clark examined the parcel, which tested positive results.

Subsequent tests using PDEA K-9 and Rigaku Progeny analyzer confirmed the presence of illegal drugs.

The success of the operation was attributed to  the collaborative efforts of PDEA Clark International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (CRK IADTG), Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark, PNP Aviation Security Unit 3, PNP Drug Enforcement Group, National Bureau of Investigation, and PDEA Intelligence Service.