PDEA raises alarm over marijuana's growing popularity as holidays near

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday said high-grade marijuana (kush) is growing more popular amid the Christmas rush, warning that it has intercepted kush often in parcels after recent operations.

PDEA revealed this to INQUIRER.net after the agency seized another package smuggling kush at the Central Mail Exchange Center near Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.

“Kush, commonly called cannabis indica, is increasingly popular during the holiday season where parties among younger generation[s] are more frequent,” PDEA told INQUIRER.net.

READ: PDEA nabs student selling marijuana worth P120,000 in Cagayan

The Dec. 11 operation intercepted a kilogram of marijuana worth P1,407,800 in a parcel declared to be clothing and arrested the recipient listed: a male resident of Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, according to PDEA’s report.

The apprehended suspect will face a charge of importing dangerous drugs.

Last Dec. 5, NAIA’s drug task group confiscated 21 parcels containing 7,791 grams of kush worth P10,907,400 also at the Central Mail Exchange Center.

READ: PDEA cracks down on marijuana in parcels; P14.1M intercepted in 6 ops

“The number of interceptions of illegal drugs, particularly kush, via courier services increased in recent years. Majority of the seized kush originated from Thailand and the United States,” PDEA said, but it did not provide any data.

PDEA is enhancing its personnel’s capability with K9 and X-ray units to detect marijuana in packages, conducting screenings in cargo terminals nationwide.

It is also working with interdiction units at the country’s airports and seaports through its regional offices to counter drug smuggling.

“PDEA remains vigilant to ensure packages containing illegal drugs are intercepted and kept from being delivered. PDEA also is grateful for the participation of the courier service providers in the successful interception of the contraband,” the agency said.

(2024/12/11-14:10)