NAIA – If you are bringing in or bringing out money amounting to $10,000 or more, be sure to declare it as provided for in the customs law. Customs officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have started using K-9 cash sniffing dogs to detect money being brought in or out of the country.
Early this month, customs officials detained a Balikbayan couple from the Unitted States for brining in $10,000 without declaring it. from a Balikbayan couple who arrived from the United States for not declaring the money as required by law.
The couple, Menelio Umipig and his wife,
were interrogated by customs officials after the money was confiscated. Menelio
berated his wife for not informing him about the money she was bringing with
her. The wife, whose name was not mentioned, retorted that she was hiding
it from him so that he will not be able to use it for his drinking habit.
The couple planned to retire in Sta.
Maria, Ilocos Sur. The cash was discovered in her handbag when she knelt down
to pat a cash-sniffing dog on the head. The dog reacted to the presence of the
cash in her handbag.
However, airport customs collector Carlos
So decided to release the money to the couple later saying that if the amount
is halved, each of them would only be carrying $5,000 each and therefore does
not constitute a violation of the law.
The United States Transportation Security
Agency has employed the K-9 dogs since early this month to sniff the bags of
incoming passengers, especially overseas Filipino workers and balikbayans in an
attempt to follow the money trail of international terrorist groups which they
suspect are using OFWs, balikbayans and other passengers as couriers.
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