Government agents intercept smuggled Chinese meds

Government agents intercepted smuggled shipments of Chinese medicines at a warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Customs NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said her men seized some 2.2 kilos of Chinese drugs that landed at the DHL warehouse without necessary documents or clearance from the Food and Drug Administration late last month.

The shipments, concealed in three separate packages to three different consignees with same shipper address, were misdeclared by the importer as “Resin Handicraft”, a clear case of technical smuggling.

Talusan refused to identify the names of the three consignees, saying the bureau's law division is currently conducting case build up against them.

She, however, described the latest smuggling attempt as "a new modus in evading the required License to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration from the Food and Drugs Administration on the importation of medicines."