P20-M fake DVDs seized at NAIA

Some 2.5 tons of pirated DVDs (digital video discs) worth approximately P20 million have been seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The DVDs were taken to the UPS warehouse at the NAIA complex for inspection. Present during yesterday’s inspection were Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo and NAIA District Collector Celso Templo.

Templo said the DVDs were contained in 64 packages weighing 2,444 kilos.

The items, declared as printed materials and consigned to an individual in Quezon City, came from Malaysia.

Earlier this month, the BOC also intercepted some 15,000 pirated DVDs worth P1.2 million at NAIA.

"These apprehensions will definitely serve as a strong warning to unscrupulous persons that in NAIA you have no place to hide," said Templo. "This is a very good start for our operatives who have also made a very significant contribution in collection efforts."

He said the NAIA Customs house has surpassed its 2003 collection target of P11,921,000,000 by 3.92 percent when it collected P12,388,024,937.58.

Templo reported to Bernardo that this year’s cash collection is 4.65 percent higher. – Sandy Araneta