CLARK FREEPORT, PAMPANGA — In a high-impact anti-drug operation, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Clark intercepted nearly ₱70 million worth of suspected marijuana and arrested three Chinese nationals at Clark International Airport, tightening the noose on international drug trafficking routes.

Authorities seized a total of 99 vacuum-sealed packs of dried marijuana leaves—commonly known as “kush”—hidden inside three hand-carried bags of passengers arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, and bound for Hong Kong. The shipment weighed 46,533.3 grams with an estimated street value of ₱69,799,950.00.

The bust unfolded during routine passenger profiling when the suspects were flagged and subjected to X-ray screening. Suspicious images triggered a full physical inspection, exposing the illegal cargo concealed in their baggage.

K9 units from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed the presence of dangerous drugs, sealing the suspects’ fate. The three foreign nationals were immediately arrested and charged under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A Warrant of Seizure and Detention was swiftly issued by District Collector Jairus S. Reyes, citing violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863) in relation to the country’s anti-drug laws.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno delivered a strong warning to drug syndicates, underscoring the agency’s intensified crackdown:

“The Bureau of Customs is not only actively enforcing its mandate—we are executing a relentless campaign to dismantle smuggling networks. This operation sends a clear message: our borders are not open to criminal enterprises.”

At the forefront on the ground, Collector Jairus Reyes reinforced Clark’s role as a critical defense line against narcotics smuggling, vowing sustained vigilance and aggressive enforcement.

The operation highlights the growing coordination between Customs, PDEA, and airport authorities under the Clark Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (CRK-IATFAID)—a united front aimed at choking off drug pipelines at major entry points.

With this latest interception, the BOC signals an unyielding stance: drug traffickers are being hunted, stopped, and prosecuted—no exceptions

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