DAVAO CITY –Personnel from Bureau of Customs stationed as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on July 5, confiscated a live leopard gecko sent through a parcel from Thailand.
In a press statement released on Sunday, July 11, the BOC stated that the parcel arrived at the Paircargo warehouse without the required import permit from the DENR, prompting the conduct of 100% physical examination thereof. Upon examination, it was found to contain a live Leopard Gecko approximately valued at P20,000.00
The BOC immediately coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) .
Gecko is a specie regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and protected under Republic Act (RA) No. 9147 otherwise known as the Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. Its collection from the wild as well as trade requires import permit from the Biodiversity Management Bureau under the DENR. Violation of RA 9147 is reportedly punishable by imprisonment up to four (4) years and a fine up to P300,000.00.
The seized leopard gecko shall be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 of the RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Section 11 of RA 9147. The custody of the seized wildlife specie was immediately turned over to DENR pursuant to Section 8 of Customs Administrative Order No. 10-2020.
The DENR will pursue the case building and prosecution against the importer and co-conspirators for violation of RA 9147, while the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), Legal Service of the Bureau of Customs will be tapped to conduct case build-up and prosecution for violation of Section 1401 of the CMTA.
