Young crocodiles seized at NAIA

A businessman was arrested by airport authorities late Monday for trying to smuggle in three small exotic crocodiles from Cambodia that were in an international list of critically endangered species.

Enrique Castillo, Jr., 50, wrapped the Siamese crocodiles — each weighing one and a half kilos — in a fishnet and hid them in an athletic bag that he brought as hand-carry luggage.

He was unaware, however, that customs authorities had been tipped off by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Wildlife Traffic and Monitoring Unit and were already on the lookout for him when he stepped off a Singapore Airlines flight from Cambodia at around 9 p.m. Monday.

Glen Pastorfide, head of the DENR unit detailed at the airport, said they acted on a hunch that Castillo might try to sneak in the animals.

"He had tried to bring the crocodiles legally at first because he had filed a request for a permit to import them from Cambodia recently which was denied," Pastorfide told The STAR.

Cross-border transport of animals listed as "critically endangered" by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is prohibited.

Airport authorities checked on Castillo in case that he persisted in bringing the Siamese crocodiles in.

After clearing immigration, Castillo reportedly lingered in the airport’s luggage retrieval area, making calls on his mobile phone, looking at airport security personnel until he was the last Singapore Airlines passenger still in the area.

He went to a Customs checkout counter manned by Celso Rosero, who checked Castillo’s three bags. Castillo at first tried to stop Rosero from opening the third bag, claiming it contained smelly fish.

But Rosero continued, found the fishnet, gingerly brought it out — careful not to get bitten by its reptilian contents.

Pastorfide said under Republic Act 9147 or the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitat Act, Castillo could get two to four years in prison and a fine of P30,000 to P300,000 for possession of endangered species.

He faces an additional six months to one year behind bars and a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 for transporting them.

The three crocodiles were turned over to DENR’s Protected Animals and Wildlife Bureau. Pastorfide said Castillo wanted the crocodiles for his animal collection.

The Siamese crocodiles could fetch P15,000 each in the black market, according to Pastorfide.