(Photo from BOC-NAIA)
MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of NAIA on Friday reported the seizure of some 826 spiders in three parcels in Pasay City.
In a statement, the bureau said a total of 809 spiderlings and 17 adult spiders were found inside air postal parcels at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) on Sept. 14.
It added that the parcels all came from Poland and were consigned to certain residents of Pasay City, Parañaque City, and Batangas.
The items were declared as figurines and medicines.
Upon physical examination, surreptitiously concealed small plastic vials wrapped in foil with cotton containing spiderlings and spiders were found.
The animals were immediately turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit (DENR WTMU) pursuant to Customs Administrative Order No. 10-2020.
Aside from the instituted seizure and forfeiture proceedings against the subject seized wildlife species for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 and Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
The DENR is currently conducting case building for possible prosecution of the importer and co-conspirators for violation of RA 9147, while the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), Legal Service of the BOC shall conduct parallel case build-up for possible prosecution of violation of Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The BOC-NAIA, together with the Environmental Protection Compliance Division (EPCD), intercepted the parcels. (PNA)
