53 kilos of dried seahorses seized

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs at the Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, together with personnel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Transnational Aviation Support Services, Inc. and Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU), intercepted 53 kilograms of dried seahorses from three Chinese nationals who were bound for Macau last October 4.

The possession was in violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998), Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 233 and Republic Act No. 10654 (An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing).

The BOC-Cebu, in its Facebook page, said that the confiscated dried seahorses were issued a receipt of confiscation.

The dried seahorses, as well as the three Chinese nationals, were taken into custody by the authorities of the BFAR-7 for further investigation.

The BOC said that a physical examination was conducted by Divina Arreglo, acting customs examiner, Passenger Service; SAII Ferdinand Laraga, CIIS representative; and SAII Enrico Tamayo, ESS-CPD, representatives from TASSI, CTU and in the presence of Alexander Montuya, fishery quarantine officer of BFAR.

In a separate interview, BFAR-7 Director Alfeo Piloton said that the dried seahorses only weighed 40 kilos.

“Siguro ang kadtong 53 kilograms apil na ang maleta ato (maybe they included weighing the suitcase),” said Piliton, adding the dried seahorses were put in three luggages.

He said that his office has imposed a fine of P15,000 on the violators, who already paid.

“We are now conducting as to where they got those dried seahorses,” said Piloton.

These dried seahorses are popular for their use as aphrodisiacs.

Piliton also explained on why they did not file the criminal case as there are a lot of factors such as the following:

First, the circumstances of the respondents.  They have with them a minor and a senior citizen;

Second, the  turnover took a long time, and since this is a light offense, criminal case should have been filed within 12 hours.

“Kulangan ta sa time because from the time of apprehension to their coming sa office, it took about six hours,” he said.

Third, the language barrier.

“No ready interpreter and it was a challenge to communicate with them,” Piloton said.

He further said that the confiscated dried seahorses will be destructed by way of burying it next week.  JMD (FREEMAN)