Authorities intercepted US $272,000 or nearly P16 million in alleged undeclared cash from a departing Filipino passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Lawyer Yasmin Mapa, district collector at the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-NAIA, identified the passenger as Franz Benson Alcones, 34, who was supposed to depart the country via Cathay Pacific flight (CX 912) bound for Hong Kong.
According to BOC-NAIA, the passenger’s check-in luggage underwent a physical examination at NAIA Terminal 3 where authorities found alleged undeclared foreign currency amounting to USD 272,000.
“After the verified counting of the US dollar currency, the total amount was confiscated due to the traveler’s non-declaration,” the BOC-NAIA said.
The confiscated US dollar notes were turned over to the NAIA Baggage Assistance Division for safekeeping while Alcones was placed under the custody of the Enforcement Security Service (ESS) for further investigation and subsequent inquest.
The BOC-NAIA said it recommended the issuance of a warrant of seizure against the passenger for violation of Section 117 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)-Regulated Importation and Exportation; Section 1113 of the CMTA- Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture; and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 1146 Series of 2022 - Amendments to the Rules on Cross-Border Transfer of Local and Foreign Currencies.