BOC-Cebu Awaiting Clearance to Unload Seized Medicines

Officials of the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Cebu are waiting for the clearance to dispose of various undeclared medicines brought in by a foreign passenger at the Mactan International Airport.

Lawyer Elvira Cruz, district collector of BOC-Cebu, said the medicine shipment was carried by a passenger identified as Douglas Booker in a flight from Hong Kong and arrived at the Mactan airport last November.

Cruz said customs examiner Cirila Lumacad conducted physical examination on Booker’s baggage when she found the medicines.

“The customs examiner found that the baggage contained various medicines. These were undeclared,” Cruz said, adding she already issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD).

Lumacad told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview that the medicines were loaded inside two medium-sized boxes. The medicines are for kidney failure, cough and antibiotics.

She said the medicines were intended for donation to a non-government organization in Davao.

The medicines are, however, expiring this year.

Failure to declare the items “is a violation of Section 1113 Section (f) in relation to Section 117, Section 1113 (i) and Section 1404 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” she added.

Cruz directed the Customs Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) to take custody of the medicines “to strictly observe the Customs Memorandum Order No. 8-84”.

Lawyer Ricardo Morales II of Sub-port of Mactan Passenger Service said the seizure was made possible because of efforts of the customs personnel assigned at the Mactan airport. (PNA)