The Bureau of Customs seized two semiautomatic pistols hidden inside electric water heaters to be delivered to Hong Kong and Vietnam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The customs agents led by Customs District III Collector Ed Macabeo arrested Alfonso Martin Sanchez who inquired on the status of the two outbound parcels stored in a Pasay warehouse, for failure to present the required documents from the Philippine National Police. The two handguns were found at the Thomas Nationwide Transportation Warehouse at the Naia in Pasay and consigned to Christopher Yeung of Hong Kong, China and a certain Lau of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Customs Enforcement Group Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said that when the boxes were opened, they found a 9mm pistol and .45 pistol with empty magazine.
Charges were filed against Sanchez before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The seized items are now in the custody of the BoC–Naia.
Nepomuceno said the recent apprehension will send a strong signal to the public that the bureau strictly secures the country’s border against illegal shipments.
Customs authorities said the suspect has been coordinating with them to divulge who was behind the gun smuggling.
