The airport customs is conducting follow-up operations to determine the source of smuggled gecko and snakes that arrived at the air cargo warehouse and Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) without the permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) confiscated 12 newly hatched pythons at the CMEC in Pasay City that arrived recently.
Port of Naia collector Carmelita Talusan said the snakes were concealed inside a package and “were misdeclared as taro chips from Indonesia.”
The market price of the newly hatched snakes ranges from P5,000 to P20,000.
A full-grown reticulated python snake, which is considered the world’s longest and heaviest snake that usually constricts its prey, can weigh as much as 30 kg to 40 kg and grow as much as 17 feet to 18 feet on an average, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The BOC noted that the importation of such wildlife species without necessary permits is a violation of Section 117 in relation to Section 1401, CMTA of Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, and RA 8485, or The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
The nonvenomous python snakes were turned over to DENR representatives led by Atty. Andres Mikhail Villaruel of the DENR legal division for proper handling and protection.
Talusan said that in the first two weeks of October, the DENR and the wildlife office at the Port of Naia have apprehended one live mangrove snake and 250 live gecko lizards, which were also turned over to the BAI and the DENR.
Villaruel said some hobbysts and farmers are importing snakes and lizards but they need importation permits and certificates to make their importation legal.