The shipment, headed for the United Kingdom, was supposedly just another balikbayan-style box filled with juice powder mix, face masks, a wooden jewelry box, instant noodles, delicacies, a plastic photo frame, and craft items—at least, that’s what the paperwork claimed.

But the X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) saw something else.

Irregularities in the scanned images prompted a manual check, which revealed the truth:
Live wildlife concealed inside a parcel declared as household items.

The find immediately triggered violations under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), particularly Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) and Section 1401 (Unlawful Exportation). The millipedes were promptly turned over to the DENR for proper handling.

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NEPOMUCENO: “THIS IS BORDER PROTECTION IN ACTION.”

BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno praised the vigilance of the screening team, highlighting the broader significance of the operation:

“This operation showcases the Bureau’s strengthened capability to detect attempts to misdeclare goods, especially wildlife shipments. We remain committed to enforcing customs laws and stopping the unauthorized transport of regulated species.”

Under his watch, the Bureau’s posture against wildlife trafficking and environmental crimes has grown sharper, with a deliberate push for intelligence-driven enforcement and tighter facility monitoring.

This is another check mark in Nepomuceno’s ongoing campaign to restore discipline and credibility across the Bureau.

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MAPA: STRAIGHTFORWARD AND STRICT

District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa of BOC-NAIA echoed this commitment, stressing the operational importance of honesty in declarations:

“This interception reinforces the need for accurate declarations and full compliance with export regulations. BOC-NAIA will continue working with partner agencies to ensure outbound facilities are not used for illicit activities involving wildlife or any regulated commodities.”

Under Mapa’s stewardship, NAIA continues to deliver consistent enforcement—tight, coordinated, and uncompromising.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE

Wildlife trafficking is one of the lesser-seen but steadily rising threats moving across borders. Misdeclared parcels—whether inbound or outbound—remain a favored tactic of smugglers.

This operation serves as a reminder:
Anything that tries to sneak past the country’s borders, whether contraband, wildlife, or undeclared commodities, will run straight into a Bureau determined to fight back.

With Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno pushing nationwide reforms
and Collector Yas Mapa enforcing discipline at NAIA’s frontlines,
the Bureau sends a clear message:

The borders will be protected.
The laws will be upheld.
And smuggling—wildlife or otherwise—will not pass.

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