SEVERAL exotic pests, which were all misdeclared as candy, were intercepted by personnel of the Bureau of Customs – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) at the Sub-Port of Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) last week.
Upon rigorous screening of the postal items, which included x-ray scanning and thorough physical examination, a parcel was found to contain 50 concealed pieces of isopods, invertebrates belonging to the greater crustaceans.
The exotic pests, which reportedly came from Thailand, were confiscated for lack of import clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry, and for violation of the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978 (PD 1433) and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
“The Bureau of Customs pledges to prevent smuggling and protect the country’s borders against threats, including exotic pests, through strict border controls and reforms,” BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio stated.
The BOC-NAIA, led by District Collector Yasmin Mapa, remains firm in its border security efforts against the entry of any foreign pests, in line with the directives of Commissioner Rubio.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bureau of Customs Facebook page)