Customs tightens screening of balikbayan boxes

MANILA, Philippines — With the volume of balikbayan boxes increasing during the Christmas season and the recent discovery of P1 million worth of smuggled high-end ammunition, the intelligence unit of the Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOC-MICP) has tightened the screening of balikbayan boxes entering the country.

BOC-MICP Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) supervisor Alvin Enciso yesterday said that they are more suspicious of the contents of balikbayan boxes coming into the country during the holiday season.

Just last Dec. 6, six balikbayan boxes containing alleged smuggled high-end ammunition that are suspected to be sold in the black market arrived at the MICP.

The shipment was misdeclared as containing 390 packages of household goods and personal effects.

The shipment was sent by a certain Alex Agustin of 31762 Gentry AV, Gilroy, California and was consigned to Arnel Velasco but it was coursed to Lario Vecencio, 54, of San Isidro street, San Marcelino, Zambales province.

“Disguising as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), many smugglers would try to use the balikbayan boxes as a way to bring in their illegal products, that is why even if it is Christmas we are still on guard against unscrupulous persons who use balikbayan boxes in their illegal activities,” Enciso said.