The number keeps climbing. A yacht being stripped at the Port of Subic has now yielded P366.65 million worth of high-grade kush, after authorities uncovered still more of the illegal drug in a continuing search of the vessel.
Another P204 million tucked inside
The Bureau of Customs confirmed on Saturday, Sept. 5, that its composite team recovered an additional 123.91 kilograms of kush, or 109 packages with an estimated value of P204.44 million, while agents kept stripping and examining the yacht in Olongapo City.
That latest find brought the total haul from the single vessel to 198 packages of kush, carrying a combined estimated street value of P366.65 million. Kush refers to a high-grade strain of cannabis, which is why a comparatively compact load can be worth so much.
How the seizure grew
| Round | What was recovered | Estimated value |
|---|---|---|
| Initial haul, reported Sept. 4 | Suspected kush and cannabis packages | Around P106.8 million |
| Latest discovery, Sept. 5 | 109 more packages, 123.91 kg | Around P204.44 million |
| Total from the vessel | 198 packages | P366.65 million |
A joint operation that is not over
The continuing inspection was carried out by the Bureau of Customs together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Department of Justice, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s law enforcement department.
- “This additional discovery shows that our work does not stop with the initial apprehension,” said BOC-Port of Subic District Collector Geniefelle P. Lagmay.
- BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the operation supports efforts to strengthen border security and disrupt the illegal drug trade.
- The seized items were turned over to the PDEA for custody and disposition, with the investigation still ongoing.
Customs officials said they would keep examining and stripping vessels to make sure possible hiding places are checked, signaling that more discoveries could still be reported in the coming days.
