Korean carrying US$167,300 collared at NAIA

On Mar 22, 2023

A Philippine Customs officer counts the American dollars totaling 167,300.00 found in the luggage of a Korean national (seated with face blurred) who flew in from Incheon, South Korea, last March 17, 2023. The bringing in or out of the Philippines of any currency exceeding $10,000 is against the law unless properly declared (BOC-PIAD).

ELEMENTS from the enforcement and intelligence services of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) collared a Korean passenger for failure to declare a huge amount of American dollars he was carrying on his arrival.

NAIA district collector, Carmelita Talusan, in a belated report to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said the incident happened last Friday, March 17, 2023.

While the passenger’s name was not disclosed, Talusan said he arrived on board flight OZ701 of Asiana Airlines at the NAIA Terminal 1 from Incheon, South Korea.

Physical examination of the subject baggage in the presence of the passenger, as witnessed by the bureau’s ESS and CIIS personnel and the Customs Flight Supervisor, revealed undeclared foreign currencies concealed in a book, with actual inventory amounting to USD 167,300.00.

The passenger has been placed at the custody of the ESS/Customs Police-NAIA while the currency, equivalent to P9.2 million, was confiscated.

The BOC reminds the public that any person may freely bring foreign currencies into or out of the Philippines up to a maximum amount of USD 10,000, or its equivalent.

However, if the amount exceeds USD 10,000, the foreign currency must be declared through the Customs Baggage Declaration Form and the Foreign Currency Declaration Form (FCDF) upon arrival at or before departure from any Philippine airport.