More than 800 spiderlings and adult spiders which were concealed in postal parcels were recently intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), authorities said Friday, Sept. 17.
The BOC's Port of NAIA and Environmental Protection Compliance Division (EPCD) said 809 spiderlings and 17 adult spiders were found hidden in three air postal parcels at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Lasay City last Tuesday.
Records showed that the subject postal parcels were declared as figurines and medicines. They all came from Poland and were consigned to certain residents of Pasay City, Parañaque City, and Batangas.
Upon physical examination, surreptitiously concealed small plastic vials wrapped in foil with cotton containing spiderlings and spiders were found by the authorities.
The smuggled arthropods were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit (DENR WTMU) for proper handling.
Appropriate charges are being prepared against the consignees for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 of Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, as well as the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act or RA 19863.