The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported an over 450% increase in the number of seizures made on illegal items that were detected through new X-ray machines installed at the Port of Manila (POM) and Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Overall, 15 seizures of undeclared, high-value items were made from January to June 2014, up 87.5% from the same period last year, according to a mid-year report submitted by X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) officer-in-charge Julito Doria.
Seized items included luxury watches, electronic goods of commercial quantity, assorted machine parts, and jewelry.
With the use of X-ray machines, XIP was able to issue alerts on 36 shipments, a 260% increase from only 10 alert orders in 2013, according to BOC.
Doria also noted in the report that BOC was able to collect additional revenues of over P6.4 million in the first half of 2014 from the proper payment of additional duties and taxes following detection of illegal goods through X-ray inspections.
Under Customs Memorandum Order 06-2014, the XIP unit has been realigned with the Enforcement Group (EG) under Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, as the customs agency has recognized the strategic value of X-ray screenings in frontline border protection.
The CMO enables a combination of technology and human expertise to inspect cargo to thwart the entry of contraband and anti-social goods. It also gives the EG deputy commissioner the authority to order a quick scan of shipments with derogatory information, and empowers district collectors to issue alert orders on shipments recommended for 100% examination.
In addition, the CMO allows customs examiners to be deployed to conduct preliminary and non-intrusive container inspections.
Last May, four state-of-the-art fixed baggage X-ray machines were set up at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1, 2 and 3—the first tranche of eight such machines purchased by BOC early this year.
Aside from NAIA, two other X-ray machines have also been deployed at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, while one each were put up at Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Kalibo International Airport in Aklan.
BOC plans to procure additional fixed X-ray machines this year, aside from purchasing at least six hand-held X-ray units and four mobile X-ray machines. These will be deployed to other international airports in the country like in Laoag and Davao. – Roumina Pablo
