Value of kush haul found in yacht at Subic port rises to P366.65M

OLONGAPO CITY — The total value of high-end kush seized from a yacht at the Port of Subic has risen to P366.65 million after authorities discovered an additional 123.91 kilograms of the illegal drug during a continuing inspection of the vessel.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic confirmed on Saturday, Sept. 5, that its composite team found 109 more packages of kush worth an estimated P204.44 million as authorities continued stripping and examining the yacht.

The latest discovery brought the total haul from the vessel to 198 packages of kush, with a combined estimated street value of P366.65 million.

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The continuing inspection was conducted by the BOC in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED).

Authorities had earlier seized packages of kush from the same yacht during an enforcement operation at the Port of Subic.

BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Geniefelle P. Lagmay said the latest discovery showed that the agency’s work did not end with the initial seizure.

“This additional discovery shows that our work does not stop with the initial apprehension,” Lagmay said, adding that authorities would continue to thoroughly examine and strip vessels to ensure that possible hiding places were checked.

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BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the operation was part of the agency’s efforts to strengthen border security and disrupt the illegal drug trade.

The seized items were turned over to the PDEA for proper custody and disposition, while the BOC and its partner agencies continued their enforcement and investigation into the seizure. INQ /mr