NAIA Customs seizes over 400 watches worth Php 4M

(Wikipedia photo)

MANILA — Airport Customs personnel seized on Tuesday over 400 pieces of Casio G-Shock watches worth Php4 million concealed in six balikbayan boxes which arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Dubai.

According to NAIA District Collector Edgar Macabeo, the shipment containing the 413 pieces of branded watches arrived in the country via cargo carrier FOREX and FILEX Cargo.

He said that the shipments were subjected to Alert Order by the BOC’s Intelligence Group based on derogatory information. Upon the conduct of spot-checking, it was found out that the contents were watches instead of declared personal effects such as chocolates or groceries.

The boxes were seized by Airport Customs officials for violation of Section 2530 paragraphs E, F, I, and L of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

“We are closely monitoring all packages coming in or going out of the country.

We have received reports that certain individuals are trying to use various cargo forwarding companies to try and smuggle items into the country,” Macabeo said in a statement.

The boxes were sent by Jeffrey N. Valencia, Peter Paul Bayani, Winly Dael Duran, Blessie Jao, and Leland Marquez and were consigned to Jennifer N.

Valencia, Edward Ochave, Clarisse D. Karingal, Genevieve Ochave, and Edmund Discutido.