BOC The confiscated onions and fruits by the Bureau of Customs-NAIA.

BOC-NAIA seizes ‘undeclared’ onions, fruits at NAIA 1

January 14, 2023 Jun I. Legaspi 530 views

THE country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), is conducting an investigation of its ten crew members suspected of bringing prohibited or undeclared items, such as imported fruits and vegetables seized by the Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA), into the country.

An official report revealed that the crew members arrived on two separate flights from Riyadh and Dubai at the NAIA Terminal 1 Friday morning of January 13, 2023.

Cielo Villaluna, the spokesperson of PAL, in a statement, said, “We are investigating the incident involving ten crew members who were found to be carrying undeclared vegetables and fruits in their baggage after flying in from Riyadh and Dubai.”

“Philippine Airlines does not condone any violation of customs regulations. We will impose the appropriate disciplinary sanctions subject to the results of the investigations,” Villaluna added.

“We are fully cooperating with the customs authorities on this matter. We reiterate to all our personnel the need to adhere strictly to customs regulations at all times,” the statement continued.

Based on the initial investigation submitted by the BOC-NAIA, the confiscated onions, lemons, strawberries, and blueberries were found in the luggage of the crew members after arriving from their duties.

According to Atty. Ma. Lourdes, the managing deputy collector for Passenger Services, reported to the Airport Customs District Collector Carmelita Talusan that the confiscated regulated items were placed in the crew members’ luggage.

Based on their initial investigation, BOC-NAIA officials suspected that the crew members involved would intentionally “fail to declare” before the Customs Baggage Declaration Form that they were bringing the confiscated items without the “necessary import permit from the Bureau of Plant Quarantine (BOPQ).”

Airport and Customs authorities seized 27 kilos of onions, 10.5 kilos of lemons, and one kilo of strawberries and blueberries.

BOC-NAIA immediately turned over the undeclared items to BOPQ for “immediate destruction.”

The suspects will be facing smuggling charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and PD (Presidential Decree) 1433 for breaching the plant quarantine law to be filed by BOC and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

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