As efforts to secure the borders remain in place, the Bureau of Customs-Port of NAIA recently seized six shipments from Hongkong found to contain 146,600 boxes of medicine with an estimated value of P29,328,000 with no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.
After receiving a derogatory report, the shipments were subjected to a Pre-Lodgement Alert Order and 100% physical examination in the presence of Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI), CIIS, and ESS representatives.
In the course of the examination, the shipments were found to contain boxes of Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang, a traditional Chinese medicine regulated by the FDA.
In fact, efforts to locate the consignee turned futile, and reportedly can no longer be found at his given address as attested by concerned barangay authorities.
The seized medicines will be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Sec. 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) in relation to Sec. 117 (Regulated Goods) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Food and Drugs Act.
The Port of NAIA under District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan continues to support the directives of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to secure the nation’s borders 24/7 against unsafe, unregistered, and hazardous substances. (BOC-NAIA) – jlo
