THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu intercepted a total of 767 boxes of undeclared medicines from Hong Kong worth around P1.7 million on May 12, 2020 at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

In a statement on Tuesday, May 19, the shipment, which was consigned to a resident of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, arrived at the MCIA on May 12. It was declared to contain 50 kilograms of foodstuff.

Customs Inspector Emmanuel Masbang conducted an X-ray examination on the same day and found the images suspicious.

This prompted Customs personnel to examine the shipment, resulting in the discovery of assorted medicines and other food stuff.

Lawyer Charlito Mendoza, acting BOC-Cebu district collector, said the medicines found inside the shipment did not have a Certificate of Product Registration from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mendoza said he immediately issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment.

He also warned would-be smugglers that their anti-smuggling campaign remains active despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. (WBS)