3 Japanese nabbed at NAIA for carrying P46-M cash

MANILA, Philippines – Three Japanese nationals were charged by airport customs officials for failing to declare the equivalents of P46 million in foreign currencies during their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Thursday night, August 29.

Agnes Domines, customs duty collector, said the passengers – identified as Takashi Koichi, Suzuki Yuzo and Tereshima Seita – were onboard Japan Airlines flight JL 745. They came from Narita, Japan.

Customs police colonel Marlon Alameda said that the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services had been prompted by their Japanese counterpart weeks ago about the arrival of the trio in Manila with huge cash in foreign currencies.

The Japanese nationals denied having the P46-million sum when they lined up individually for customs clearing.

It took customs officials 8 hours to count and record the serial numbers of 88 million yen in 10,000 bills and $173,000 in 100 bills seized from the suspects.

Charges were filed against them at the Pasay City’s Prosecutors Office.

Failure to declare cash upon entering the country is a violation of central bank rules. Central bank rules only allow non-declaration upon departing or arriving here for cash worth up to P10,000 or 10,000 in other currencies. – Rappler.com