The Bureau of Customs seized almost 400 specimen tubes containing harmful black ants that were supposed to be smuggled into the country.
Based on the report, the items were declared as toys and were seized in two separate operations on Jan. 24 and Feb. 4.
The importation and exportation of non-native black ants are strictly prohibited by the government as they may pose danger to local species and may even bring diseases.
A number of people, however, are enticed to have the imported black ants because of their appearance.
Those seized were intercepted after BOC employees noticed something suspicious in the parcels.
The seized black ants were immediately turned over to the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources and subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 11 and 27 of RA 9147 otherwise known as "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act", and Section 117 in relation to Section 1113 (f) of RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).