PAL steward nabbed with 15 kilos of jewelry

Alert Customs authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport foiled yesterday an attempt by a flight purser of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) to smuggle 15 kilos of solid gold jewelry with an estimated value of some P50 million.

Customs District Collector Celso Templo said that the assorted jewelry was found hidden around the waist of Rodolfo Vicente, a 52-year old purser of PAL, who arrived on board a PAL flight from Singapore.

Customs police noticed that Vicente was sporting an unusually big waist for his 5’4 ft. frame and he was limping on his way out of the Terminal II.

They accosted him and Vicente consented to a body search. The jewelry was found tied around his waist. A check of his hand carried luggage also showed more jewelry cleverly hidden among his personal clothing.

Templo ordered the confiscation of the jewelry and issued a warrant of seizure.