BOC foils attempt to smuggle in P4M worth of watches at NAIA

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has foiled an attempt to smuggle into the country over P4-million worth of watches concealed in at least six balikbayan boxes coming from Dubai.

Ed Macabeo, district collector of the BOC for NAIA, said the 413 G-shock watches were seized by customs officers on Monday late afternoon when it arrived in Manila from Dubai via cargo carrier Forex and Filex Cargo.

The contrabands arrived in batches through six shippers identified as 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.

The customs officials caught the contraband in balikbayan boxes after it got a “derogatory information” from the BOC’s intelligence group.

Upon the conduct of spot-checking, it was found out that the contents were watches instead of declared personal items such as chocolates and groceries, a violation of Section 2530 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.

Macabeo noted that airport personnel are vigilant about using such attempts to sneak in high-value items into the country, attempting to sneak in high value items in the country.

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