Live corals seized at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in cooperation with the Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seized on Thursday some 149 pieces of assorted live corals concealed in 33 boxes declared as tropical fish bound for Fukuoka, Japan.

Customs collector Rey Gatchalian assigned at the Miascor warehouse and BFAR head Ben Curativo told The STAR the 149 pieces of live corals were concealed under the styro boxes of live fish when examined.

BFAR officer Francisco Taborda and Customs trade examiner Theresa Go were conducting routine check Thursday night when they spotted the 33 boxes weighing 631 kilos.

Declared as tropical fish, the entire shipment was valued only at $215.

Customs-Miascor warehouse detachment commander Ruben Virata said Taborda and Go reported their findings and immediately proceeded to the area for rigid examination of the under-valued shipment that was to be loaded on an Asiana Airlines flight.

Curativo said the shipment was seized for two reasons: it was undervalued and the export of corals is banned.

There were also no accompanying documents or permits, they said.

BFAR officials are still trying to estimate the cost of the whole shipment, which may reach millions of pesos, Curativo said.

Curativo and Gatchalian added that there were clear attempts to cheat the government by concealing the corals beneath the oxygenated bags of tropical fish inside the boxes.

Last Sunday, Curativo intercepted 46 boxes of young eels, estimated to contain two million fry or elvers, while these were about to be shipped to Hong Kong. 

It was surmised that the eels would be raised until they mature in about six years, and turned into the Japanese gustatory delight called unagi.

In a report to the BFAR and Customs, the shipper of the corals was identified as Seri International Enterprises located at 857 Santiago St. Gatchalian Subdivision, Manuyo II, Las Piñas City.

The shipment was consigned to Media Net Corp., 2-1-7 Nishi Takasu, Waitamatsu-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.

Customs and BFAR added that the corals must be turned over to the BFAR and that warrants of seizure and detention issued against the shipment for violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code and other Philippine laws.

“The export of corals is banned by RA 550, section 97 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Raising corals in aquarium is the latest craze among aquarium hobbyists,” Curativo said.