'CREEPY' PACKAGE. Customs personnel uncover a total of 44 arthropods in small plastic cases from an unclaimed package at the PHLPost Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City on Wednesday (June 30, 2021). These include 25 tarantulas, 12 spiderlings, five centipedes, and two ornithoctonus black spiders worth PHP500,000. (Photo courtesy of BOC)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs-Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) seized an unclaimed and overstaying parcel which was found to contain 44 wildlife species worth PHP500,000 in PHLPost Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City.
In a statement Thursday, Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan said the parcel from Thailand was consigned to a certain Aldwin Capucae in Pasay City, Metro Manila, and was declared to contain plastic teaching materials.
The failure of the claimant to get the parcel within the reglementary period led to the abandonment of the package, resulting in the discovery of the 44 arthropods on Wednesday.
These include 25 tarantulas, 12 spiderlings, five centipedes, and two ornithoctonus black spiders.
In an uncontrolled environment, these animals may have direct and indirect effects on human health, especially, the fact that these arthropods bite when threatened by external factors like the presence of predators or humans.
Other species can also secrete venom through a bite, producing extreme pain to the unfortunate recipient, and can be fatal to humans.
The seized wildlife species were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
A warrant of seizure and detention has been recommended by the examiner against the parcel, and further investigation is underway against the claimant for the possible filing of charges in violation of Republic Act 9147 known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, and RA 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act Section 117 in relation to Section 1113 and 1400, and all other related rules and regulations. (PNA)
