Consignee, broker of elephant tusk shipments to be sanctioned

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs on Wednesday ordered the suspension of license and blacklisting of the consignee and broker that facilitated the release of elephant tusk shipments worth P100 million. Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the consignee, 210 Enterprises, and Customs broker Marilyn Pacheco, were liable for the two separate shipments of elephant tusks that arrived at the Port of Manila last March 1 and March 5. The shipments, misdeclared as blow molding machines and recycled waste plastics, were from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Morales said the consignee and the broker would be charged for violating Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and Republic Act 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The illegal shipments were inspected and conducted inventory Wednesday morning by Morales and Environment Secretary Joselito “Lito" Atienza. The seized items would be turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for safe keeping, Morales said. - GMANews.TV