BOC asks CIDG to track down consignees of smuggled rifles

The Bureau of Customs has asked the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police in tracking down the consignees of the smuggled parts of AR-15 rifles, which were intercepted at the Manila International Container Port the other day.

Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Enforcement Group, said his unit does not have the manpower to trace the whereabouts of the shipment’s consignees identified as John Gallardo of Las Piñas City and Carlito Ariar of Cebu City.

Templo said receivers, butts and barrels of AR-15 rifles where hidden inside three balikbayan boxes filled with various household items and personal effects.

"We have already issued a warrant for the seizure and detention of the shipment. We have also requested the CIDG to go after the consignees as we do not have the people for this, Templo said.

The boxes, he said, were shipped under the names of George Gallardo of Walnut, California; and Marisse Sy of San Diego, California.

The shipment arrived last Thursday inside a 40-foot van aboard the vessel New Confidence.

Templo could not immediately say how many guns could be assembled from the parts seized by Customs agents.

According to him, this is the first time that parts for an assault rifle have been attempted to be smuggled out of the MICP.

He, however, said that other shipments of gun parts have been previously intercepted by Customs agents in the ports of Cebu, Davao and at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Templo said the foiled shipment at the MICP could be the work of a large gun smuggling syndicate and not of people trying to destabilize the government.

"This looks more like the work of gun smugglers than destabilizers," he said.