Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials at Ninoy Aquino International Airport disclosed on Tuesday that they have foiled an attempt to smuggle out two handguns concealed inside electric water heaters.
The guns, an Armscor Philippines caliber .45 and a 9mm, were seized at the Thomas Nationwide Transportation Warehouse in Pasay City. According to BOC, the guns were about to be shipped out to neighboring Vietnam and Hong Kong, China.
Customs District III Collector Ed Macabeo said a resident of Caloocan City had inquired about the status of two outbound parcels stored in a Pasay warehouse bound for Vietnam and Hong Kong.
When the boxes were opened, agents found “a lower receiver 9mm pistol and a lower receiver .45 pistol with empty magazine.”
Macabeo identified the listed shipper as a certain Alfonso Martin V. Sanchez, a 21-year-old described as an employee, who failed to produce supporting documents required by the Philippine National Police.
Relevant charges were brought against Sanchez before the Pasay city Prosecutors Office for violation of Republic Act 10863, or the customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016, and RA 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Customs authorities indicated that the suspect is coordinating with them to divulge who was behind the gun smuggling.
X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) head Maj. Jaybee Cometa (2nd from L) with Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Ariel Nepomuceno and NAIA District Collector Ed Macabeo inspect the seized handguns bound for Hong Kong and Vietnam concealed in two electric water heaters.
