A couple from Dubai and a Customs employee assigned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were arrested for conspiring to smuggle P3 million worth of assorted jewelry, Customs chief Isidro Lapeña said on Saturday.
The suspects Abraham Mimbalawag and his wife Bang-sa Mimbalawag were foiled in their attempt to bring in 1.9 kilos of jewelry at the Naia Terminal 3, Lapeña said.
The suspects connived with Naia Customs Operations Officer V Lomontod Macabando assigned at the terminal’s arrival area, Lapena said.
The couple arrived at Terminal 3 on board Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J-015 from Dubai Saturday last week.
On the same day, the on-duty Customs examiner noticed that an unidentified passenger handed over a black clutch bag to Macabando. Subsequently, the suspicious employee hurriedly walked towards the exit of the Customs Arrival Area.
The Customs examiner immediately reported the incident to the Naia duty flight supervisor. Thereafter, Customs personnel tried to block Macabando from going out of the Customs premises but he was able to escape, prompting them to seek assistance from the Security Guards and Airport Police present at the area.
“Macabando was finally accosted and was convinced to go back in the Customs Arrival Area and return the subject clutch bag to the owner thereof,” said Lapeña.
After conferring with the arriving passengers Abraham and Bangsa-an, Macabando accompanied the two to Customs Arrival Area where they admitted ownership of the bag.
The Customs authorities then opened the bag for 100% examination and yielded 24 pieces of rings, 1,029 pairs of earrings, 155 pieces of pendants, 5 pieces of earrings with pendants, 19 pieces of bangles, 295 pieces of chains, and 101 pieces of bracelets.
Authorities said the bag owner failed to declare the importation and provide required commercial documents or invoice.
Manila Airport – Customs district collector Carmelita Talusan immediately issued a warrant of seizure and detention on the jewelry on May 7 while the suspects and Macabando were arrested and placed under inquest proceedings at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.
Charges were filed against the suspects for violation of Sections 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation), 1402 (Failure or Refusal of Party to Give Evidence or Submit Documents for Assessment), and 1404 (Failure to Declare Baggage) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Grave Coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) placed Macabando under investigation for administrative violations, particularly Section 1431 (Statutory Offenses of Officers and Employees) of the CMTA for colluding with spouses Malimbawag to defraud customs revenue.
Authorities revealed that smugglers are also using the Philippine postal system to transport contraband including prohibited drugs.
Just recently, Lapena presented to members of the media the smuggled P3.2 million worth of illegal drugs his men assigned at the airport seized in separate occasions at the Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City.
The contraband — five parcels of marijuana and one ecstasy parcel — were intercepted by Customs agents after X-ray machines showed image irregularities.
After X-ray examination, Customs examiners placed the items under physical examination with the presence of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force for confirmation of illegal substances, Lapena said
In June last year, Airport and Customs operatives also intercepted in CMEC a package from Canada containing marijuana worth more than P100,000.
Four vacuum-sealed plastic pouches containing 343 grams of cannabis dried leaves was discovered in the parcel upon examination by authorities.