After exotic turtles were discovered being smuggled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last month, authorities discovered other animals being brought illegally into the Philippines earlier this week.
But this time, they were a bunch of creepy crawlies. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday seized 757 live poisonous tarantulas hidden in plastic containers and put inside gift-wrapped boxes.
The boxes where the eight-legged creatures were kept were found at NAIA’s Central Mail Exchange Center.
The venomous creatures were sent by a certain Wojciech Pakasz of Poland, reported Manila Bulletin. The recipient of the boxes was a Caloocan City resident named Jesse Camaro.
Camaro was arrested when he arrived at NAIA to claim the boxes, Philippine Star reported. He was charged with violating Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act which could land him in jail for as long as six years. He could also pay up to PHP300,000 (US$5,743) in fines.
Camaro was also charged with Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. If found guilty, he could be imprisoned for up to two years, while the fine could go up to PHP200,000 (US$3,829).
The tarantulas were valued at PHP310,000 (US$5,935), reported ABS-CBN News. They were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit.
According to the BOC, it has turned over 2,152 wildlife species discovered inside packages, pieces of baggage, and shipments at NAIA since 2018.
In March, the BOC seized 1,500 exotic turtles inside four pieces of luggage left behind by an unidentified Filipino passenger who arrived from Hong Kong.
