Chinese held for P19.5 M smuggle try

Customs agents intercepted yesterday an arriving passenger at the new Centennial Terminal II with 9.2 kilos of assorted jewelry with an estimated value of P19.5 million.

The jewelry, hidden in the luggage of Zhang Wan Liang, 18, was detected by the scanning machine manned by Customs personnel under Col. Joey Yuchongco at the arrival area of the airport.

Customs Deputy Collector Tess Roque confiscated the jewelry. She said a smuggling case will soon be filed against Zhang.

Zhang, a Chinese national from mainland China, arrived on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Xiamen.

The jewelry consisted of gold earrings, necklaces, bangles and rings.

The contraband was in 18 bundles tightly wrapped with electrical tape to evade detection by the scanning machine. But physical examination of the contents of the luggage revealed the smuggled items.

Zhang said she bought the jewelry in Xiamen for only 4,600 Yuan, or about P26,000, to be sold in Manila by her "contacts." – Rey Arquiza