CLARK FREEPORT – Efforts to exploit commercial cargo channels in trafficking illegal drugs have been thwarted by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Clark with the interception of misdeclared shipments falsely recently.
In its social media page BOC-Clark reported on Feb. 5 that a shipment declared as “steel brackets and fasteners” yielded nearly P7-million worth of suspected high-grade marijuana.
Arriving from France on Jan. 26 and bound for Taguig City, the shipment drew
attention during routine risk assessment and was flagged for further scrutiny under the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), the BOC said. Subsequent scanning revealed irregularities inconsistent with the declared contents, prompting escalation of the inspection. A K-9 sweep conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yielded a positive indication for the presence of dangerous drugs.
A complete physical inspection resulted in the recovery of 10 plastic bags
containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be marijuana or “Kush.” The total weight of the seized drugs reached approximately 4,664 grams, with an estimated market value of P6.996 million.
Earlier, BOC with the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs seized 4.11 kilograms of high-grade marijuana with an estimated value of P6.16 million. The shipment, declared as “polyester rug runner,” came from California, USA, and was intended for San Mateo, Rizal.
Irregular imaging detected by the XIP prompted a 100% physical examination by Customs examiners and witnessed by operatives from the PDEA, the Philippine National Police, and other CRK-IATFAID members. Inspectors discovered a cylindrical container concealing three black transparent plastic bags containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be marijuana.
Chemical analysis conducted by the PDEA later confirmed the substance as marijuana, classified as a dangerous drug under RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), as amended. The shipment was found to have violated Sections 118(g), 119(d), and 1113 paragraphs (f), (i), and (l)(3) and (4) of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), in relation to RA 9165.
“These interceptions reflect the value of coordinated enforcement and disciplined inspection protocols. Preventing illegal drugs from passing through our ports is a direct safeguard for our communities,” enthused BOC-Clark district collector Jairus S. Reyes of the operations.
For his part, Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said, “The Bureau of Customs exercises vigilant oversight at all ports to ensure operations remain safe, lawful, and efficient. Coordinated enforcement with our partner agencies is central to safeguarding our borders and maintaining public trust.”
For January 2026, preliminary report showed that the BOC-Clark has intercepted a cumulative worth of P21.258 million, demonstrating how sustained enforcement and coordinated efforts continue to block illicit substances from entering the country. Punto News Team/BOC-Clark
