Customs seizes P1.1M cash from passenger at NAIA

Customs agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted Friday evening P1.1 million in cold cash from a passenger, in violation of cross-border transfer of local and foreign currencies.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs said the money was intercepted from a passenger from Kota Kinabalu who arrived via AirAsia Flight No. Z2 502 on March 6 at around 9:00 p.m. at the NAIA Terminal 3.

Photo courtesy: BOC NAIA

"The Philippine currency was seized for violation of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act) in relation to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 922 s.2016 on Cross-Border Transfer of Local and Foreign Currencies," the Customs said.

According to the bureau, the duty customs examiner noticed a passenger and his two companions acting suspiciously.

The examiner then directed the passenger identified thru his Malaysian passport as Gan Kang Hsiung, male, 32, to bring his checked-in baggage to the Customs examination lane.

"The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) operatives assisted the examiner in undertaking the examination," the BOC said.

Initial results yielded bundles of Philippine peso bills, it added.

Cross-boarder transfer of Philippine currency is regulated under the BSP Advisory on Cross-Border Transfer of Local and Foreign Currencies, wherein a person may bring in and out of the Philippines not more than P50,000.00.

Any amount exceeding P50,000.00 will require authorization from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) prior to importation or exportation. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News