2 Chinese cops caught carrying gold at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese policemen were accosted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 (NAIA-2) on Friday afternoon after they were found to be carrying 1.9 kilos of gold bars and coins.

Yang Jie and Shi Senlin, who handcarried the gold items, were escorting eight Chinese to Shanghai. The Bureau of Immigration deported the eight Chinese following their arrest for illegal online gambling in the country.

The policemen claimed the gold is the property of the Chinese government after they allegedly intercepted the items from one of the deportees, according to the Bureau of Customs.

BOC on-duty supervisor Charlon Tejada said in his report that they seized the gold items, issued a Held Baggage Receipt to the Chinese policemen and told them to secure a permit from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) before they can bring the gold items out of the country.

Tejada said the gold items were seen during the initial X-ray screening at the NAIA-2’s departure area and Office of Transportation Security personnel alerted the BOC examiner.

District collector Mimel Talusan said the gold items, placed in a box and wrapped in plastic, are composed of nine coins (with different animal designs), an Elizabeth II $100 coin, four bars and six bracelets.

She said the gold items are in the BOC-NAIA’s custody and can only be released if the Chinese policemen present a permit from the BSP.

Under Section 117 of Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Law, goods subject to regulation can only be imported or exported after securing the necessary permits.