Customs seizes P400,000 cash from Filipino passenger at NAIA

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday said its operatives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have seized P400,000 in cold cash from a Filipina passenger.

In a statement, the bureau said the BOC-Port of NAIA apprehended the passenger on March 11 “while attempting to bring out P400,000 without required written authorization from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).”

The woman's action was in violation of the Manual on Cross Border Local and Foreign Exchange Transaction under BSP Circular No. 922, Series of 2016, the Customs said.

“Aside from Seizure proceedings for violation of Section 1113 (f) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the Filipina passenger is currently detained and facing criminal charges for violation of Section 36 of the New Central Bank Act (NCBA) and Section 1401 of CMTA,” it said.

The passenger faces a penalty fine of not less than P50,000.00 but not more than P200,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than 10 years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

“On the other hand, for violation of Section 1401 of the CMTA, the imposable penalty is imprisonment of not less than six months and one day but not more than one year, or a fine of not less than P75.000.00 but not more than P150,000.00, or both.

“The public is advised that for cross border transaction of local currency, if the amount sought to be exported or imported exceeds P50,000.00, a written priority authority from BSP is required,” the BOC said. — MDM, GMA News