Firearms and ammunition worth around P500,000 were discovered in two packages declared as solar panels and tool cart during a recent inspection in a warehouse in Pasay City.
Customs agents from the Port of NAIA found eight pistols — Glock 19-9mm and Heckler & Koch P2000 V3, 20 ammunition magazines; and 266 live ammunition in two outbound packages from Taiwan.
The shipments were only declared as solar panels and tool cart, which were used to conceal the handguns and ammunition.
The seized items, the bureau said, were discovered through profiling and subsequent X-ray examination of the shipments.
The name of the consignee and the sender, however, were withheld for further investigation.
The bureau said that exportation of firearms and ammunition through fraudulent misdeclaration and without necessary permits is a violation of Section 119A, 1400, 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (Betheena Kae Unite)