The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seized 180 kilos of medicines without clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The shipment from Xiamen, Fujian, China was declared as “vitamin pills” and consigned to a male individual from Muntinlupa City, BOC said in a statement. Physical examination of shipment showed it contained Chinese medicines illegally imported without the necessary License to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration from FDA.
The haul had an estimated value of P700,000 and will be subject to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) in relation to Section 117 (Regulated Goods) and Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
BOC NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said they will continue to support directives of Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to guard the country’s borders against the entry of misdeclared goods and prevent attempts to use the coronavirus pandemic to smuggle items.
On May 6, 2020, FDA released Advisory No. 2020-767 warning the public against the purchase and use of unregistered Chinese medicines.
