The Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport announced on Wednesday it had destroyed another shipments of medicines, expired food supplies and other smuggled items.
Customs NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the medicines which were imported without necessary Food and Drug Administration registration and permits were disposed through condemnation in Trece Martires, Cavite.
Also included in the condemnation were One Time Password devices, SIM Cards, USB Flash Drives and Bank Cards commonly used in Money Laundering activities, cements, electrical items, bulbs and batteries without Bureau of Product Standards clearances; tobacco leaves and cigarettes imported without a clearance from the National Tobacco Administration.
For the past weeks, the Port of NAIA has continuously condemned valueless, prohibited, hazardous and unsafe goods having a total of 311.85 tons for the year 2020.
Talusan said the weekly condemnation activities was in compliance with the directives of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonard Guerrero to inspect all abandoned and overstaying cargoes and its immediate disposal.
Last week, the agency destroyed 21,000 kilos of smuggled vape products.
Those products are used for inhalation of vapor created by an electronic cigarette or other vaping devices.
These e-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices and have cartridges filled with liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings and chemicals.
In view of the noted health hazards of vape products, its importation and use were highly regulated by the Food and Drugs Administration while the importation of unregistered vape products was prohibited under Republic Act 11467.
According to Collector Talusan, her office will continue to check unsafe and hazardous goods arriving into the country without the proper approval and safety standards clearance .
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the BOC will continue to protect consumers and the nation by ensuring, through intensified vigilance and border protection, that only products certified by regulatory agencies with necessary permits are released in all ports of entry.
