An "unclaimed and overstaying parcel" at Philpost Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) turned out to contain 44 wildlife species, mostly arachnids.
Recovered by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) operatives from the parcel on Wednesday, June 30 were 25 tarantulas, 12 spiderlings, five centipedes, and two ornithoctonus black spiders.
Originating from Thailand and consigned to a certain Aldwin Capucae of Pasay City, the package was declared to contain "plastic teaching materials for university".
The failure of the claimant to get the parcel within the reglementary period led to its "abandonment" and subsequent examination by the authorities.
The seized species from the misdeclared package were estimated to have a market value of at least P500,000. They were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) has been recommended by the examiner against the parcel. Further investigation is underway against the claimant for the possible filing of charges in violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act; and RA 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).