AGENTS of the airport customs district foiled on Friday a smuggling attempt to bring into the country several preserved specimens of wildlife species from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A combined team of customs and wildlife personnel nabbed a package that contained 20 pieces of Sulcata tortoise, 10 pieces razorback turtle, one head of a red-bearded dragon, two heads of corn snake and eight heads of savannah lizards. The contraband is valued at P284,000.
The contraband was found concealed in a box declared as “Lego toys” at the Federal Express warehouse in Pasay City.
Airport Customs agents and members of the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit (WTMU) of Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) apprehended the claimant.
A customs report said that around 6:15 p.m. last Friday, an alleged representative of the consignee came to the warehouse to claim the parcel.
Unknown to the claimant whom authorities didn’t identify, customs and wildlife agents have already known the contents of the package as banned wildlife species. The claimant who is also suspected as the importer was immediately apprehended by the authorities.
The claimant and all other personalities found involved in the smuggling attempt will face charges for Illegal importation of Wildlife species under the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” or “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.”
District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan said they are fully united with the DENR in upholding wildlife protection and conservation.
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