Customs Bureau seizes gun parts, ammo in Pasay

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it had, thrice this month, intercepted misdeclared shipments that actually contained gun parts and dozens of rounds of live ammunition.

In an emailed statement, the BOC said its NAIA District Office was able to intercept the shipments from a DHL warehouse in Pasay City during operations on July 1, July 4, and July 7.

According to the BOC, it seized 35 pieces of rifle parts, four Glock pistol magazines, 92 rounds of live ammunition, an airgun, and a Glock pistol from the warehouse.

"The illegally imported rifle parts from Hong Kong discovered in DHL warehouse were misdeclared as general merchandise, while the pistol and pistol parts bound for Taiwan were misdeclared as 'new water pump'," said the BOC.

"In the same warehouse, the abandoned goods that were examined on July 7, 2019 also yielded an airgun rifle and 4 other pieces of airgun accessories and gun parts from China," it added.

The BOC said customs operations were properly coordinated with the Philippine National Police - Firearms and Explosive Office (PNP-FEO).

"An investigation is now being conducted to identify its perpetrators and in preparation for the filing of appropriate charges," the BOC said.

For her part, BOC-NAIA District Collector Mimel Talusan said it would continue to boost efforts to avoid the entry of illegally imported goods.

"We do not sleep at the NAIA District Office if only to ensure that illegal goods, especially guns and drugs are apprehended and are not able to get through customs," she said. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News