BOC to quiz consignee of baby pythons

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has summoned the consignee of a package containing seven baby ball pythons that arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Oct. 11, an official said yesterday.

BOC-NAIA Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) chief Verne Enciso said they have invited Yuki Arabia of Pildera 1, Pasay City to come to their office tomorrow.

Enciso said they will ask if Arabia was aware there were seven baby pythons, reportedly from Indonesia, hidden in two toy cars.

They will also check if there had been previous packages sent by the same shipper. “We would also ask if aside from this incident, were there previous instances when Arabia received baby ball pythons or other kinds of animals inside packages. If this was the case, we might be looking at a modus operandi in smuggling,” Enciso said.

In the market, a baby ball python could reportedly fetch from P9,500 to P11,000. The snakes were turned over the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.