BoC: Balikbayan boxes used for drug smuggling

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) issued an alert on Wednesday that balikbayan boxes were being used for drug smuggling by criminal syndicates.

Under the law, Filipinos abroad could send a maximum of three balikbayan boxes a year, free of duties and taxes, provided they only contain personal effects and household goods not exceeding P150,000.

“Sending balikbayan boxes is the simple tradition of Filipinos of giving gifts to their families and friends, but look how these criminal elements use them to smuggle illegal drugs into our country. No matter how many times they try, the full utilization of our personnel in shipment monitoring and available resources will foil any smuggling attempt,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.

Rubio issued the statement following another seizure of “kush” or high-grade marijuana worth P158.74 million, inside balikbayan boxes from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

The attempt to smuggle 132.288 kilograms of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages through balikbayan boxes was foiled by the operatives of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service following a tip.

The illegal shipment was consigned to Mary Gail Quesada and Rainier Quesada via the Marcelo D. Laylo Cargo Forwarders.

Early this month, illegal drugs worth P238.2 million hidden in balikbayan boxes from Thailand were discovered by Customs operatives at the MICP.

In February, approximately 63 kilos of dried marijuana worth P76 million inside balikbayan boxes from Thailand were seized at the same port by BoC agents.