In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen border protection and enforce strict regulations on the movement of endangered species, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), intercepted three outbound parcels containing agarwood, a regulated forest product.
The parcels, with a total estimated street value of ₱9,315,000, were intercepted at a warehouse facility in Pasay City.
“This interception reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources and preventing the illegal trade of endangered species.”
“This interception reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the country’s natural resources and preventing the illegal trade of endangered species,” BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said.
The shipments were declared as dried “alingatong” wood chips but were flagged by x-ray inspection due to suspicious images.
Marked for examination, the packages were subjected to 100% physical inspection, which revealed 3.80 kilograms, 4.10 kilograms, and 4.52 kilograms of agarwood, respectively, instead of the declared items.
The attempted misdeclaration constitutes violations of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Presidential Decree No. 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines).
“The Bureau of Customs will continue to intensify enforcement to protect biodiversity and ensure compliance with environmental laws,” Nepomuceno added, emphasizing the significance of the operation.
The seized shipments were placed under the custody of BOC-NAIA for proper disposition, in coordination with the DENR for appropriate action.
“Through strict cargo monitoring and inter-agency collaboration, BOC-NAIA ensures that our international gateways will not be exploited for the trafficking of illegal forest products.”
“Through strict cargo monitoring and inter-agency collaboration, BOC-NAIA ensures that our international gateways will not be exploited for the trafficking of illegal forest products,” District Collector Alexandra Lumontad stressed.
This successful interdiction highlights BOC-NAIA’s crucial role in protecting not only the country’s borders but also its environmental heritage, in line with national and international conservation efforts.
