Smuggling of P10 M worth of endangered corals foiled

Customs agents foiled an attempt to smuggle some P10-million worth of endangered corals to China via the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said 782 sacks of red and white corals from Tawi-Tawi were seized aboard the cargo ship M/V Princess of the Universe at Pier 12 last week.

"This is an unprecedented apprehension of the Bureau of Customs," he said. "This only shows that we are concerned not only with meeting its target collection, but also with protecting the rich natural resources of our country."

Morales showed reporters the seized illegal shipment yesterday.

The STAR learned the corals were supposed to be shipped to Xiamen in China for decorative display in aquariums.

The consignee was identified as Xiamen Hengliquan Import and Export Co. Ltd.

Col. Jose Yuchongco, Customs Enforcement and Security Service chief, said the corals were wrongfully declared as assorted shell crafts at Port of Zamboanga.

"After the shipment was partially inspected at the Zamboanga Port, the syndicate switched it with the sacks of corals," he said.

"But this modus was later on discovered by our men at MICP. Our information showed that the syndicate planned to smuggle out of the country more corals three times a month."

Yuchongco said the actual price of the shipment was P3 million, but that it could be tripled when sold abroad.

The export of endangered species and natural resources is prohibited under Republic Act 8550 and an international agreement on protected species, he added.

Officials from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who inspected the shipment, said the seized corals were a big loss to the country’s marine environment.

"We believe they got these corals from a fish sanctuary," Agriculture Undersecretary Fred Serrano said. "These are hard corals that are normally found in sanctuaries since they could provide protection for small fish."

Yuchongco said they would continue investigating on the case and find out who could be behind the smuggling of corals from Tawi-Tawi.

Charges of violations of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, Republic Act 8550 and International Treaty on Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora would be filed against the suspected smugglers, he added.

Under the law, the smuggling of endangered species is punishable by a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of P120,000. – Edu Punay