TRAFFICKERS are increasingly using mail hubs to transport parcels disguised as clothing or food to conceal illegal items, a trend authorities recently uncovered.
In a major blow to mail-order narcotics, the PNP Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted four abandoned parcels containing P11.76 million worth of kush marijuana at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) on Feb. 6, 2026.
Government authorities, along with the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG), uncovered approximately 7,840 grams of high-grade marijuana cleverly concealed within household items.
Authorities stated that a batch of abandoned inbound shipments was subjected to the BOC's cargo X-ray examination, which resulted in a positive alert.
A subsequent manual inspection aided by a narcotics detection dog revealed the drugs hidden inside tin containers and clothing, alongside items such as candies, comforters, cereal and snack packs.
According to BOC District Collector Yasmin Mapa, the intercepted illegal drugs were handed over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for proper disposition, laboratory analysis, and case documentation.
Avsegroup chief BGen. Dionisio Bartolome said that the interception underscores the vigilance and effective interagency collaboration in preventing illegal drugs from entering the country via mail and cargo.
Major kush interception at CMEC in early 2026, worth millions of pesos of contraband, includes P11.76 million worth of 4 parcels on Feb. 6; P14.83 million in 40 parcels on Feb. 4; P15.44 million in 42 parcels on Feb. 3; P8.91 million in 20 parcels on Feb. 2; P3.72 million in 8 parcels on Jan. 22; and 63 packs of marijuana candies on Jan. 26.
