MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted three packages containing at least 826 spiders during an operation at the Central Mail Exchange Center on Tuesday.
In a statement yesterday, the BOC said the packages, declared as containing figurines and medicines, came from Poland and were consigned to residents of Pasay, Parañaque and Batangas.
The bureau turned over 809 spiderlings and 17 adult spiders to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit.
The DENR is preparing charges against the consignees for violating the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and the Customs Modernization and Tarriff Act.