P1.4-million ‘kush’ marijuana seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly a kilo of high-grade “kush” marijuana, hidden in bags of tortilla chips, was seized by customs and anti-narcotics operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Central Mail Exchange Center on Monday.

Jake Ryan Soriano, 23, was arrested when he claimed the parcel containing the tortilla chips and marijuana, said NAIA customs district collector Mimel Talusan.

The marijuana, weighing 874.20 grams and valued at around P1.4 million, was shipped by APC Postal Logistics from Illinois in the United States.

Officials said the marijuana was detected when the parcel went through x-ray screening and inspection by drug-sniffing dogs.

In Quezon City, suspected pushers Rosalyn Bagtas, 27; Ephraine Saraza, 31; Emmanuel Saraza, 23; Atanacious Sta. Cruz, 33, and Gerson Sanchez, 23, were arrested in a sting in Barangay Bahay Toro on Monday night.

Eighty grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with a street value of P544,000 were seized from the suspects, who are “newly identified drug personalities,” said Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr., Quezon City Police District director.

The suspects allegedly sold P31,500 worth of shabu to a policeman posing as a drug buyer.

Policemen also confiscated a black Nissan Patrol the suspects used in the transaction. – Emmanuel Tupas