MANILA – A screener intercepted undeclared USD273,905 from a passenger at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Wednesday.
“X-ray operator Yvonne Dujali was conducting the usual security screening at the baggage make up area when she noticed an opaque image on the X-ray monitor,” the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) said in a social media post on Thursday.
The undeclared cash, equivalent to over PHP16 million, belonged to a Hong Kong-bound passenger.
The OTS said that to confirm the baggage contents, they called upon the passenger through the airline to personally witness the manual inspection.
Bundles of cash were discovered during inspection, prompting OTS screeners to call on personnel from the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group, who subsequently coordinated with the Bureau of Customs for their proper disposition.
“The cooperation and collaboration among airport authorities have been effective in thwarting not only acts of unlawful interference, but also other illegal activities which may occur at the airport, and other transportation facilities in the country,” OTS Administrator Crizaldo Nieves was quoted as saying.
Travelers are required to declare foreign currency exceeding USD10,000 and Philippine peso exceeding 50,000. (PNA)