BOC busts kush, marijuana-infused gummy candies at Clark port

DANGEROUS TREAT. A Customs officer shows cannabis-infused gummy candies seized at the Port of Clark on Feb. 1, 2024. The BOC on Tuesday (Feb. 13) said authorities also intercepted 40 grams of kush (high-grade marijuana) and 10 pouches of gummy candies that were concealed inside a parcel declared as “sneakers” arrived from New York in the United States on Feb. 1. (Photo: Bureau of Customs PH/Facebook)

MANILA – Customs officers at the Port of Clark intercepted kush or high-grade marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis-infused gummy candies worth around PHP88,000.

In a statement Tuesday, Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Clark District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria said the 40 grams of kush and 10 pouches of gummy candies were concealed inside a parcel declared as “sneakers” arrived from New York in the United States on Feb. 1.

He said the parcel underwent x-ray scanning and K9 sniffing, both of which indicated the possible presence of prohibited drugs.

A physical examination revealed that the parcel contained dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be kush.

A chemical laboratory analysis performed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed the presence of marijuana, a dangerous drug under Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Austria has issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the subject shipment for the violation of Section 118 (g), 119 (d), and 1113 par. f, I, and l (3 and 4) of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to RA 9165.

The BOC did not identify the consignee of the shipment.