-
A customs broker and her sister were arrested by Bureau of Customs officials following an extortion complaint filed by a freight forwarder
-
Wyeth Lara Navales and sister Leila Lara Navales were arrested on June 3, 2025, in Manila
-
The complaint was filed by Otsuka Freight Forwarders Co., Ltd.
-
The suspects allegedly demanded P1.9 million in addition to P500,000 already paid
-
Broker claimed shipment would be held and subjected to seizure without payment of ‘grease money’
A customs broker and her sister were arrested by Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials for allegedly extorting money from a local freight forwarder under the guise of facilitating cargo release.
In an operation conducted jointly with the National Bureau of Investigation–Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD), BOC officials apprehended licensed broker Wyeth Lara Navales and Leila Lara Navales at a coffee shop in Ermita, Manila, on June 3, BOC said in a statement.
The arrest followed a complaint by Kenji Otsuka, owner of Otsuka Freight Forwarders Co., Ltd., who alleged the two demanded an additional P1.9 million on top of a previously paid P500,000 engagement fee. The suspects told Otsuka his shipment would be subjected to a Warrant of Seizure and Detention if the amount was not paid by June 3.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services director Verne Enciso said the BOC acted swiftly, launching the entrapment operation just a day after the complaint was filed.
“Even though the complaint was only filed on June 2, we needed to act fast because the suspects gave a deadline for the additional P1.9 million payment,” Enciso said.
Deputy Commissioner for the Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy explained that the initial P500,000 payment was supposed to cover the broker’s fee and all duties and taxes.
However, the complainant was later told the shipment was being held and would only be released upon additional payment, allegedly as “padulas” (grease money) for various BOC offices.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio condemned the scheme and welcomed the arrest as a step toward holding individuals accountable for damaging the BOC’s reputation. “This has been a long-running modus by unscrupulous individuals who falsely claim to represent Customs officials to extort money. These acts harm the integrity of the Bureau and victimize honest importers,” he said.
He added, “Operations like this are necessary so that our officers can restore their credibility and ensure that legitimate businesses are protected from fraudulent schemes.”
Wyeth Navales, who passed the Customs Broker Licensure Exam in 2021, and her sister now face charges of robbery with violence or intimidation of persons by way of extortion under the Revised Penal Code. They were brought to the NBI office for booking and are set to undergo inquest proceedings.
