THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) foiled an attempt at wildlife smuggling of 23 tarantulas at the Central Mail Exchange Center, Customs official reported Friday.

BOC-NAIA said the parcel from Hanoi, Vietnam, consigned to a claimant in Makati City, was declared as “snacks and other foodstuffs,” however, upon examination, 23 tarantulas were concealed in plastic containers.

All 23 tarantulas were immediately turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for monitoring and safekeeping.

The said illegal shipment violates Section 1113 with Sections 117 and 1401 of Republic Act (RA) 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Section 27 of RA 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, said BOC-NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan.

This year, the Port of NAIA has seized several exotic aquatic wildlife species from different countries.

TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, a non-governmental organization (NGO) monitoring the wildlife trade, lauded the Port’s efforts against wildlife trafficking.

The BOC-Port of NAIA, headed by Talusan and under Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, said they are “strictly” implementing the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify border protection.

Together with DENR, the Port of NAIA upholds wildlife protection and its conservation initiatives, the BOC stated.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi