Bureau of Customs (BoC) agents have discovered recently firearms hidden inside electric water heaters reportedly bound for Hongkong and Vietnam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Enforcement Group Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said they found the hidden firearms when the suspect, Alfonso Martin Sanchez, 21, inquired about the status of two outbound parcels stored in a Pasay warehouse on May 10.
Upon inspection at the Thomas Nationwide Transportation Warehouse in Pasay City, two guns – a 9mm pistol and a lower receiver .45-caliber pistol with empty magazine – were found concealed in the packages.
The parcels, Nepomuceno said, were consigned to Christopher Yeung of Hong Kong, China and a certain Lau of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Customs–Enforcement Group and the Office of the BoC District Collector at the NAIA later apprehended Sanchez for failure to produce the required documents from the Philippine National Police.
Charges were already filed against Sanchez before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
However, Sanchez was able to post bail. Initial hearing will be conducted on on May 22 at Pasay RTC.
The seized guns are now under the custody of the BoC– NAIA. (Betheena Kae Unite)