A Pasay City trial court has convicted two owners of wildlife species allegedly smuggled from Poland and Malaysia last year.
The decisions were separately handed down by the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court last Sept. 22 and Oct. 4 on the unidentified claimants of the questioned shipments.
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) said the shipments contained tarantulas, sulcate tortoise, black pond turtle, bearded dragon, corn snake, and savannah lizards.
Customs—officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport declined to reveal the names of the claimants.
They said however that the two were found guilty of violating Republic Act 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and Republic Act 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).
The first defendant, who was arrested late last year after claiming the shipment at the Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) in Pasay City, was sentenced by the court to 10 days imprisonment and a fine of P26,000.
The shipment, which was falsely declared as “origami”, contained 10 tarantulas from Poland worth approximately P75,000.
The second defendant, on the other hand, owned a P284,000 worth parcel containing 41 different kinds of wildlife species (sulcate tortoise, black pond turtle, bearded dragon, corn snake, and savannah lizards) declared as “Lego Toys” from Kuala Lumpur. He was sentenced to seven months in jail and meted a fine totaling P125,000.
Records showed that the man was arrested May 28, 2021 after claiming the shipment, which was intercepted at the Federal Express warehouse, also in Pasay City.
A composite team from the Bureau of Customs – Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, X-ray Inspection Project, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit discovered both imported parcels without the required licenses and import permits from the DENR.
“The conviction manifests the commitment of the BOC, in collaboration with DENR, to penalize smugglers of illegal goods and contrabands; and
serve as a deterrent and warning to others engaging in similar unlawful activities,” said Customs NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan.