CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – A shipping container loaded with at least P800,000 worth of firecrackers was intercepted at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental yesterday.
Officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) regional office said the container arrived at the port of Tagoloan on Oct. 5 on board M/V Sicilia from China.
The shipment was supposed to be delivered to its alleged consignee, Spherebox Marketing, whose office is located in Barangay Kauswagan in this city, according to Alvin Enciso, BOC regional intelligence officer.
Enciso said the boxes of firecrackers were intercepted after the BOC central office in Manila notified the local Customs officers about the shipment.
“The container was supposed to contain general merchandise such as sanitary napkins, tissue paper, rubber mats, floor mats, and toys, but we found firecrackers after we opened six of the boxes,” Enciso said.
He said the shipment should be disposed of immediately, as it contained explosive materials.
The official said Customs Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa told BOC officers at all ports to closely monitor all shipments as the holiday season approaches.