Sari-saring tarantula sinubukang i-smuggle sa 'Pinas, idineklarang chichirya

MANILA, Philippines — Halos dalawang dosenang higanteng gagamba galing Vietnam ang nakumpiska ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) - Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) matapos mabistong ipinupuslit ito sa Pilipinas bilang "junk food."

Ito ang ibinahagi ng Bureau of Customs NAIA, Biyernes, matapos maharang ang nasa 23 tarantula sa Central Mail Exchange Center nitong ika-21 ng Nobyembre.

"The parcel from Hanoi, Vietnam, consigned to a claimant in Makati City, was declared as 'Snacks and other Foodstuffs.' However, upon examination, 23 tarantulas were concealed in plastic containers," ayon sa kawanihan.

"All 23 tarantulas were immediately turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for monitoring and safekeeping."

Ang naturang illegal shipment ay sinasabing paglabag sa Section 1113 kaugnay ng Sections 117 at 1401 ng Republic Act 10863 o Customs Modernization and Tariff Act at Section 27 ng RA 9147 o Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

Ilang exotic aquatic wildlife species na ang kinumpiska ng Port of NAIA mula sa iba't ibang bansa ngayong taon, dahilan para kilalanin ng TRAFFIC Southeast Asia ang Port para sa pagsusumikap nito laban sa wildlife trafficking.

"The BOC-Port of NAIA, headed by District Collector Carmelita Talusan and under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, strictly implements the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify border protection," wika pa ng BOC NAIA.

"Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Port upholds wildlife protection and its conservation initiatives." — James Relativo