Customs seizes

Some P5-million in jewelry and pirated electronic discs declared as "computer learning materials" were seized by alert Customs agents at the Airmail Distribution Center (ADC) in Pasay City yesterday.

Lawyer George Jereos, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Acting Deputy Chief of the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG), said operatives of the Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under Major Esmeralda Saplala seized a total 450 kilos of the contraband, 20 kilos of which were crystal bracelets identified as "Buddha Beads" and fashion accessories.

Jereos said the confiscated 96,000 pieces of video compact discs (VCDs) and digital video discs (DVDs) contained in 41 postal packages were without the required import permit from the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB).

Jereos said the goods came from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and were consigned to "Mel Kasla, Alex D, Verona Mama-o, et al." at Block 21, Lot 5, Area H, DBB, Cavite. Authorities believe the consignees and their address are fictitious.

NAIA Acting Customs Collector lawyer Cosme Sekito, who has jurisdiction over the ADC, issued a Warrant, Seizure and Detention (WSD) order on the said items for misdeclaration and violation of The Customs and Tariff Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Law. --