PDEA seizes 1.5 kilos of marijuana, 25 cannabis vapes in Aklan

By Jennifer P. Rendon

KALIBO, Aklan — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized approximately 1.5 kilograms of suspected marijuana and 25 cannabis vape cartridges during a courier warehouse interdiction operation that led to the arrest of a suspect in Kalibo, Aklan, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.

PDEA Region 6 (PDEA-6) reported its first successful K9-assisted courier warehouse interdiction that resulted in a controlled delivery operation and the arrest of a suspected drug offender.

The operation began around 9:53 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, when personnel from PDEA-Aklan, the PDEA-6 Seaport Interdiction Unit (SIU), the Aklan Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Intelligence Unit, and the Kalibo Municipal Police Station conducted a routine K9 inspection at a courier warehouse along Diversion Road in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo.

During the inspection, a PDEA drug-sniffing dog alerted authorities to two suspicious parcels.

Further inspection revealed two bricks of suspected dried marijuana weighing approximately 1.02 kilograms and 500 grams, respectively.

Authorities also discovered 25 disposable vape cartridges containing suspected cannabis oil, bearing the labels “KALIFA KARIS,” “PEACE,” and “Cali Honey.”

Assorted shipping boxes, packaging materials, and bubble wrap were also recovered.

Representative samples of the suspected illegal drugs were submitted for laboratory examination.

PDEA-6 subsequently sought and obtained authorization to conduct a controlled delivery operation to identify and apprehend the intended recipients of the parcels.

A controlled delivery is a law enforcement technique in which authorities allow a suspected illegal drug shipment to reach its intended destination under supervision to identify individuals involved in the transaction.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, operating units proceeded with the controlled delivery operation.

The first delivery attempt involved a parcel containing approximately 1.02 kilograms of suspected dried marijuana and 25 cannabis vape cartridges.

However, the intended recipient refused to accept the parcel.

The second parcel was successfully delivered at 2:46 p.m. in Kalibo, resulting in the arrest of a suspect identified only as alias “Kanggeng.”

Authorities recovered a brick of suspected dried marijuana flowering tops weighing approximately 505 grams, with a reported street value of PHP 130,000 and a standard drug value of PHP 60,000.

Also recovered were a mobile phone, packaging materials, a parcel box bearing the suspect’s name, and a “HAZY KATE” sticker.

The suspect remains in PDEA custody and faces charges for alleged violation of Section 11, or possession of dangerous drugs, under Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The operation highlights the role of K9 inspections and coordinated law enforcement efforts in detecting suspected illegal drug shipments moving through courier and delivery services.