A man bound for Hong Kong was intercepted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for allegedly attempting to smuggle out ₱1.2 million and US$580,000 in undeclared cash, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) confirmed on Thursday.
The incident occurred on June 25 during a routine baggage screening, where X-ray machines flagged suspicious contents inside the passenger’s checked-in luggage. Upon further inspection, officers uncovered bundles of local and foreign currency tucked away without proper declaration.
“The discovery was made during a routine X-ray screening of the passenger’s checked-in baggage bound for Hong Kong,” the BOC stated.
While the identity of the individual remains undisclosed, authorities are preparing to file charges under multiple Philippine laws. These include the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), the New Central Bank Act (RA 7653), and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (RA 9160) — all of which penalize the concealment, misdeclaration, and unauthorized transport of large sums of money.
Under local regulations, misdeclaring currency can lead to severe consequences. A discrepancy of more than 10% between declared and actual values can result in a 250% surcharge on duties and taxes. If found fraudulent, the penalty jumps to 500%, and the currency may be seized.
The BOC warned that discrepancies above 30% serve as strong legal grounds for fraud, prompting immediate forfeiture proceedings under Section 1113 of the customs law.