The confiscated specimens of wildlife came from Malaysia and were disguised as toys, according to Customs officials.
THE Bureau of Customs confiscated on Saturday (May 29) a parcel full of "preserved specimens" of wildlife species at a warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Customs authorities said.
The parcel came from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was declared as "Lego toys," according to the report.
Preserved wildlife specimens seized at NAIA from Bureau of Custom PH, Facebook
Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan said that when BoC personnel opened the package, it was found to contain 20 pieces of Sulcata tortoise, 10 pieces of Razorback turtle, 1 head Red Bearded dragon, 2 heads Corn snake and 8 heads Savanna lizard.
They added the wildlife species were concealed with toys.
Talusan said that at around 6:15 p.m. on Friday, a representative of the consignee was apprehended after trying to claim the parcel.
The species were already turned over to the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Preserved wildlife specimens seized at NAIA from Bureau of Customs PH, Facebook
Preserved wildlife specimens seized at NAIA from Bureau of Custom PH, Facebook
The claimant, which bureau officials did not identify, and all involved will face charges for illegal importation of wildlife species under Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 and 1401 of RA 10863 of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Section 27 of RA 9147 or Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. (BL)
Tags: #BureauofCustoms, #wildlife, #NinoyAquinoInternationalAirport