Foreign currency worth over P24 million seized at NAIA

On Jan 28, 2025

A NAIA Customs Officer counting the undeclared US dollars and Japanese Yen found in the baggage of an arriving Japanese passenger, January 23 (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Port of NAIA under District Collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa, continues to maintain its status as the country’s leading frontline unit in border protection with the confiscation of undeclared foreign currencies worth more than P24 million at NAIA Terminal 3.

Mapa, in her report to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, said that a Filipino passenger was detained last January 22 when 272,000 in undeclared American dollars, equivalent to P15.9 million, was found in the passenger’s possession whose gender was not disclosed.

The following day, a Japanese national was also detained after failing to declare $43,710 and JPY15,040,000.00 equivalent to P8.3 million. Separately, the unnamed passenger also failed to declare P62,000.00.

The scanned image of the undeclared foreign currency that raise the suspicion of NAIA customs officers (photo: BOC-PIAD).

Mapa said the confiscated currencies in Philippine peso totaled P24,204,438.71.

Under Philippine law, arriving passengers must declare foreign currency before customs officer in excess of $10,000.00 and Philippine currency in excess of P50,000.00, Mapa reminded.

Mapa said the examinations leading to the discovery was made in a transparent manner involving the members of the Customs Police (ESS), Customs Intelligence (CIIS) and Customs Flight Supervisor, in the presence of the passengers.

She said both passengers were charged for violation of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), Bangko Sentral circulars on foreign exchange transactions, and RA 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.