Airport Customs authorities recently intercepted a parcel containing 14 pieces of live beetles and larva concealed in plastic tubes and hidden in the packages of snacks, biscuits, noodles and chocolates at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC).
Beetles are plant-eating insects could potentially damage crops by creating numerous small round holes in plant leaves. Its larva consumes plant roots, causing wilting, yellowing and stunted growth of host plants.
The parcel arrived on July 24 at CMEC and was subjected to physical examination on July 29, which resulted in the discovery and seizure of 14 live beetles and larva.
For lack of requisite clearance/permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the insects were seized for violation of RA 10863, otherwise known as Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Presidential Decree (PD) 1433, otherwise known as the Plant Quarantine Law of 1978.
Under Section 4 of PD 1433, importation of potential animal pest, which could become agricultural crop pests and are capable of causing injury to crops, is highly restricted, subject to quarantine orders, rules and regulations, thereby requiring BPI clearance prior to importation.
The seized items were immediately turned over to the BPI for quarantine and immediate disposal to prevent the spread of possible plant pests that may adversely affect the local agriculture industry.
The Bureau of Customs did not explain why someone would import the beetles, although some hobbyist raise them as pets and pit them in mock insect battles for large sums of money.
Image courtesy of BOC-NAIA