By Ferdinand Patinio

ENTRY FOILED. The PHP1.2 billion worth of marijuana seized at the Manila International Container Port on Sunday (March 7, 2026). The Bureau of Customs on Wednesday (March 11) said the shipment arrived from Thailand and was declared as containing rubber mats and plastic wares. (Photo courtesy of BOC)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized about 800 kilograms of marijuana valued at PHP1.2 billion before it could enter local communities.

The operation, conducted on March 7 with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), uncovered 80 boxes containing vacuum‑sealed packs of suspected marijuana at the Manila International Container Port, the BOC said in a news release Wednesday.

The shipment had arrived from Thailand and was declared as containing rubber mats and plastic wares.

An individual identifying himself as the broker’s representative was apprehended during the operation, the BOC said.

The shipment was flagged for inspection by the BOC Intelligence Group’s Risk Management Office and subjected to a 100% physical examination.

“This interdiction is the result of careful risk assessment, intelligence coordination, and the diligence of our frontline personnel,” BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.

The seized marijuana was formally turned over to the PDEA. (PNA)