2 Chinese nationals nabbed for smuggling skimming device

FILE: BOC chief Isidro Lapeña identified the foreigners as Gong Yongjie, 26, and Wang Ji, 22, both from Guangzhou, China.(Photo: Philippine News Agency)

MANILA — The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) arrested two Chinese passengers for bringing in a skimming device at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Monday.

BOC chief Isidro Lapeña identified the foreigners as Gong Yongjie, 26, and Wang Ji, 22, both from Guangzhou, China.

Both were on board China Southern flight CZ 3091 when Customs agents stopped them after their baggage exhibited x-ray image irregularities last September 25.

“Their baggage was immediately examined by the customs examiner in the presence of other customs-NAIA agents and they found 187 pieces of brand new one-time password (OTP) cards and 153 pieces of used ATM, debit cards and new sim cards,” said Maj. Jaybee Raul Cometa, head of X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) in a statement Thursday.

OTP cards are used as a cloning device to access data in ATM cards and the generated passwords will be sent to the SIM cards which will initiate the transfer of funds.

Lapeña added the suspects were brought in for inquest after bringing in prohibited goods and failing to provide any permit from the owner of the ATM and debit cards.

“The apprehending examiner recommended the issuance of warrant of seizure and detention against the goods to the district collector of NAIA while charges were filed against Gong and Ji at Pasay City Fiscal’s Office,” he said.
Both violated Sections 1113 (f), 1401, and 118 (g) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and RA 8484 or the Access Device Act.

They are now detained at ESS NAIA District Office.

With this, the BOC head disclosed that they are installing additional x-rays machines at the NAIA and other ports in a bid to address the increasing incidents of smuggling and drug trafficking in airports.

“We are upgrading our facilities by adding more x-rays here in NAIA and we will also be procuring additional x-rays for the other ports,” he said.

Cometa added that that two units and one unit of brand new Rapiscan x-ray machines are now installed at NAIA Terminal 1 and 3, respectively while 16 more x-rays will be installed at the three terminals of NAIA.

 (PNA)