• Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport seizes misdeclared shipment of exotic aquatic wildlife and plants from Thailand worth about P3.5 million
• The shipments were not declared on Aquaxotic Enterprises’ permit to import, in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) seized on February 10 a misdeclared shipment of exotic aquatic wildlife and plants from Thailand worth an estimated P3.5 million.
The wildlife were part of an importation by a certain Aquaxotic Enterprises, BOC said in a statement.
Among those seized were 180 albino soft-shelled turtles, 120 pacman turtles, and 38,188 exotic fishes of various species. Also confiscated were various aquatic plants, such as 718 anubias and 260 microsoria.
BOC said the imported animals and plants were not declared on Aquaxotic’s permit to import, in breach of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation, in Goods Declaration) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Just recently, BOC-NAIA intercepted three misdeclared export shipments and two undeclared import shipments containing harmful black ants concealed in 396 specimen tubes. Importation and exportation of black ants are prohibited by law.
The collection district was earlier recognized by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, a non-government organization monitoring wildlife trade, for its efforts against wildlife trafficking in 2021.
That year, BOC-NAIA’s campaign led to the interception of 923 tarantulas and other arachnids, five centipedes, 66 Philippine and Malaysian reptiles, 22 Thai bearded dragons, and six Thai live tegus.
