MANILA, Philippines- Iniulat ng Bureau of Customs nitong Huwebes na nasamsam nito ang misdeclared shipment na P29.5 milyong halaga ng pinatuyong marijuana o kush sa Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Sinabi ng BOC na sa balikbayan boxes na dumating galing Thailand noong April 12, idineklara itong naglalaman lamang ng household items, mga sapatos, at motor parts.
Isinagawa ang inspeksyon ng shipment matapos makatanggap ang mga awtoridad ng “derogatory information” na naglalaman ito ng ilegal na droga, base sa BOC.
“We are seeing this modus more and more these days of marijuana being shipped through balikbayan boxes, which have become symbols of the Filipino diaspora,” pahayag ni BOC commissioner Bien Rubio.
“It’s sad to think that this modus is using something ubiquitous to every Filipino family as a balikbayan box because it degrades what that box symbolizes for us,” patuloy niya.
Dahil dito, nag-isyu ng warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) para sa shipment.
Maaaring maharap ang consignees, senders, at recipients ng balikbayan boxes sa kasong paglabag sa Customs Modernization and Tariff Act at sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. RNT/SA
