BOC seizes illegal shipment of shells

The Bureau of Customs yesterday confiscated hundreds of sacks of illegally shipped shells called cassis helmet, locally known as “budyong,” loaded in two container vans at

Pier 2.

According to Petty Officer One Alfredo Ernudo of the Cebu station of the Philippine Coast Guard Station, the container vans arrived from Zamboanga City Monday dawn.

Customs officials reportedly received information that there are four ten-footer container vans of illegal shipment from Zamboanga

City onboard the Aleson Container Carrier.

But when the authorities arrived at Pier 2, only two of the four container vans were left.

Customs police member Jimmy Aguilar, along with other BOC officials, opened one of the two containers and found hundreds of sacks of “budyong” of undetermined value.

According to Aguilar, the shipment was misdeclared because the papers stated that it contains ‘seaweeds.’

The shippers of the shipment were identified as Justine Reyes and Mukim Daud of Zamboanga City.

The meat of the shells is considered a delicacy in some luxurious restaurants in the country and abroad while their hard sheaths are turned into shellcrafts.

But the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is prohibiting the gathering and transport of shells. — Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM