An inter-agency task force intercepts 21 parcels containing 7,791 grams of dried marijuana leaves at the Central Mail Exchange Center near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. 鈥擯hoto from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) cracked down in marijuana in parcels, intercepting a total worth P14,157,800 across six operations in the last four days and sounding the alarm over increasing confiscations.
鈥淭hese past few days, past few months, the marijuana kush flowing in from other countries is somewhat increasing,鈥� PDEA spokesperson Dir. Lawin Gabales said in a radio interview on Saturday.
Gabales鈥� remarks came after a multi-agency task group intercepted 21 parcels containing 7,791 grams of dried marijuana leaves (kush) worth P10,907,400 at Central Mail Exchange Center near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City on Thursday, Dec. 5.
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The parcels were declared as books, clothing, skin products, tea and wiring harnesses.
Authorities also seized 1,229 ecstasy tablets worth P2,089,300 during the operation, according to the PDEA report.
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Gabales further said in his Saturday interview that the agency had the information of the parcels鈥� senders and recipients.
They were also coordinating with the United States鈥� Drug Enforcement Administration since many of the packages were sent from the US, according to Gabales.
He added that PDEA expects to complete their investigation and file cases against 11 or 12 consignees before Christmas.
However, Gabales stressed there were more recent cases of marijuana being found in parcels.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already intercepted many mail and parcels not only in Naia, but all over the Philippines,鈥� he said.
On the same Wednesday, Dec. 4, Caraga authorities also said their K9 unit found a kilogram (kg) of kush formed into a brick and worth P120,000 at a cargo transport service provider at Barangay Villa Kananga, Butuan City.
They added that they knew the identity and address of the consignee and were now using it to track down the sender.
PDEA Western Visayas Regional Office reported confiscating P1,690,400 worth of kush packed in 14 bricks and two vacuum-sealed bags in an interdiction operation on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Reclamation Area in Barangay 10 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
It also took 20 disposable vapes with marijuana oil.
Also on Thursday, the agency鈥檚 Central Visayas office found via its K9 unit three blocks of marijuana leaves, weighing 3 kilograms and valued at P360,000, at the warehouse of a courier company in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
PDEA 7 said it was preparing to file appropriate cases in court against two consignees, while the kush seized was turned over to the regional office laboratory for examination.
Meanwhile, a local courier service voluntarily surrendered a package containing 2 kgs of dried marijuana leaves in two bricks enclosed with cling wrap at the agency鈥檚 office in Palawan province on Thursday as well, PDEA said.
Then on Friday, Dec. 6, detection dogs found 7 kg of marijuana leaves worth P840,000, shaped into bricks and packed into three parcels at a delivery hub in Barangay Apopong in General Santos City in South Cotabato, according to the PDEA Soccsksargen鈥檚 report.
Gabales reassured, 鈥淩ight now, what the PDEA is doing in coordination with the regional offices, on mail and parcel, that鈥檚 where PDEA is focused on now with the number of incidents now in which the marijuana was intercepted through parcel.鈥�
鈥淭his rather goes for the whole year round, they send through parcels. But when December arrives, that鈥檚 when it ramps up, more people send these parcels for the Christmas season,鈥� he added.
Buy-bust operations
PDEA also reported two buy-bust operations seizing marijuana during the same period.
Two Baguio City residents were arrested during the sting at 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Sitio Bataan in Barangay Pagudpud, San Fernando City, La Union, according to the agency.
Operatives confiscated 2 kg of dried marijuana leaves double-wrapped in a plastic bag and a sack, valued at just P60,000.
The drug enforcement body identified the suspects: Mike Bane, a 29-year-old car rental driver; and Jash Balonzo, 27.
Then on Wednesday, Dec. 4, five young adults from Koronadal City, South Cotabato were arrested in a buy-bust operation at 8:30 p.m. at Barangay Silway 7 in Polomolok town.
Two bricks of marijuana leaves, 50 grams of another set of marijuana leaves in a pouch and 15 milliliters of marijuana oil in a vial were taken by authorities, all valued at a total of P298,500.
PDEA identified the suspects as Clint Subaldo also known as alias 鈥淭oto鈥�, 24; Darryl Eleccion, 20; Marco Public, 20; Lorgen Lopez, 18; and Ryuki Lariosa, 18.
All seven individuals arrested in the two PDEA operations will face complaints for violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act.