Smuggled laptops, cellular phones intercepted at NAIA

Police anti-smuggling agents intercepted and seized on Friday some P15 million worth of electronic equipment on its way out the Ninoy International Airport (NAIA).

Chief Superintendent Jesus Verzosa, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director and head of the PNP’s anti-smuggling unit, said the hot cargo was composed of 100 units of laptop computers and 200 cellular phones.

CIDG chief of detectives and spokesman Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos identified Halding Philippines as the owner of the grossly undervalued shipment.

The seized electronic equipment, which Delos Santos claimed were purchased by Halding Philippines abroad allegedly for its local customer, ABS-CBN television network, was turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Halding Philippines is the exclusive distributor of seized laptop computers and cellphones.

"We conducted the anti-smuggling operations in coordination with NAIA District Collector Ricardo Belmonte," Delos Santos said.

CIDG agents intercepted the hot electronic items while about to be spirited out of the NAIA aboard an Isuzu Elf van.

The shipment arrived from Taipeh on April 26 aboard Singapore Airlines.

"When Customs men conducted an inspection, they found out that the shipment was grossly undervalued by more than 65 percent," Delos Santos said.