Government agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted a package containing US dollars equivalent to more than half a million pesos smuggled from Arkansas via air cargo.
NAIA-Customs district collector Carmelita Talusan said the package shipped through FedEx from Arkansas, USA with some US$12,000 cash in 100 bills was wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a mobile phone box that arrived last Wednesday.
Talusan said the money was discovered when it passed the X-ray machine and through the vigilance of Customs frontliners assigned at the FedEx warehouse.
She said the undeclared foreign currency was neatly wrapped in aluminum foil possibly to mislead the subject currency from customs scrutiny.
The foreign currencies will be seized in favor of the government pursuant to Section 1400 in relation to Section 113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Talusan said she ordered her men to investigate the case and identify the consignee and the sender of the package.
The public is advised to refrain from similar fraudulent schemes as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Manual of Foreign Exchange Transaction requires the faithful declaration and accomplishment of Foreign Currency Declaration Forms for importation and exportation of foreign currency in excess of US$10,000 or its equivalent, Talusan added.
Air travelers are banned from bringing into the country Philippine currency in the amount of more than P50,000 and foreign currency more than $10,000.
Bringing materials like those advocating or inciting rebellion or sedition against the government, and other prohibited imported items like abortion paraphernalia, counterfeit goods, misbranded foods and drugs, and other anti-social goods would also be forfeited in favor of the government while the importers or carriers can be prosecuted or penalized under the law.
Authorities made this reminder as they started last July 1 the reimposition of a policy requiring all arriving crew and passengers of international flights to fill out Customs Baggage Declaration Form before landing at the airport.