The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday announced the seizure of a shipment of expensive agarwood at a bonded warehouse in Pasay City.
Based on documents, the owner described the P31-million shipment as “Mahogany Wood Hand Carving Design” and “Pack of Dried Sibukaw Wood Sticks.”
The bureau inspected the outbound shipment and discovered it contained agarwood, an expensive wood globally used in perfumery, traditional medicine, and luxury products.
Agarwood is a resin valued for its distinctive fragrance, and it is formed when the host tree becomes infected with a mold called Phialophoraparasitica and can be found only in the jungles of the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Authorities explained that the mold infection makes the tree produce a dark aromatic resin called aloes or agar in its heartwood. The fragrant resin is used to make incense, perfume, and medicinal products, particularly in the Middle East and Asia.
A kilo of agarwood fetches as much as P750,000. But selling agarwood, or lapnisan, is illegal in the Philippines.
“Protecting the country’s biodiversity is a shared responsibility, and the Bureau of Customs will remain vigilant against any attempt to exploit our natural resources,” said Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
“This interception underscores our firm commitment to strictly enforce environmental and customs laws in close coordination with our partner agencies.”
NAIA district collector Alexandra Lumontad said the shipment will be seized the Customs, tariff, and wildlife laws.
She added that the items will be turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper handling and disposition.
