BOC intercepts 25 live reptiles bound for Taiwan

MANILA – Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials seized a package containing 25 live reptiles worth PHP300,000 in Pasay City.

In a statement Saturday, district collector Carmelita Talusan reported that two venomous spitting cobras, eight pit vipers, and 15 sailfin lizards were concealed in native purses of the bamboo chimes and lanterns when it was discovered inside the DHL warehouse at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on February 18.

The BOC added that the package declared by a certain Adrian Lim as souvenir items was consigned to a certain Ryan Su in Taiwan.

The wildlife species were apprehended through the efforts of the port’s Export Division, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), Environmental Protection and Compliance Division (EPCD), X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP), Customs Intelligence and Inspection Service (CIIS), and DHL in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The seized reptiles were immediately turned over to the DENR for proper handling and disposition, including the consequent profiling and case build-up against the shipper and co-conspirators for illegal wildlife trade in violation of Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).

In March 2019 and September 2020, the Port of NAIA was commended by Traffic Asia for the confiscation of 1,529 freshwater turtles and tortoises concealed in suitcases.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service also lauded the port for the interception of a reticulated python concealed in a rattan basket last year.

Talusan said the BOC remains committed to the campaign against the illegal wildlife trade.