US Homeland Security worried: Gun parts seized from another van

CEBU, Philippines - The two recent incidents of gun parts and accessories reaching Cebu from the United States have alarmed the US Department of Homeland Security.

The DHS is alarmed at how come these materials were smuggled out of their country undetected.

Bureau of Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre in a press conference said that they were informed by the representatives of the US DHS about another shipment of smuggled items, which were examined yesterday.

“Nagtataka din sila kung bakit ito nakalusot from the US considering that they are very strict. That’s what they are trying to find out,” Silvestre said.

A 45-footer container van was found to contain seven boxes of ammunition for AK 47, seven boxes of projectiles and several gun parts and accessories coming from California, USA.

The value of the shipment is yet to be determined.

Based on the documents that came with the shipment, it was declared to contain a used disassembled truck head and used household goods valued at $6,500.

The van, Silvestre said, is part of a shipment of four containers to Manila and Cebu, according to the US DHS.

“Posibleng malaking sindikato ito,” the BOC head said.

The first container van arrived in Cebu two weeks ago and was found to contain smuggled gun parts and accessories worth around P3.5 million.

The shipment, which was declared as household personal effects, has already been forfeited in favor of the government. It also contained six big bikes that were dismantled.

The consignee of the first shipment, who was named Renato Ramos of 1513 J. Rizal St., Cebu City was found to be fictitious.

This second shipment, which arrived in Cebu last Thursday, is consigned to D Golden House Trading Co. located in Bacalla Compound, Holy Name St., Mabolo, Cebu City.

Silvestre has instructed the Enforcement and Security Services to check the consignee of the second shipment.

The Bureau of Customs requested the assistance of the Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) to open the seven wooden boxes that were found to have contained the ammunition as the Customs personnel suspected that they contained bombs. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)