720 drums of sodium cyanide seized in Misamis

TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental, Philippines – Two shipping containers with 720 drums of sodium cyanide were seized by agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Mindanao Container Port Terminal (MCPT) here, an official said yesterday.

BOC-Region 10 deputy district chief Sa-i Roman Moscoso said the shipment was worth P5 million, but the shipper did not declare its true value.

Sodium cyanide is an inorganic compound usually used in gold mining.

Moscoso said the shipment was consigned to Central Combal Mining Supply Corp. in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

He said deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno issued on Sept. 10 an alert order for the shipment, which came from Korea.

The shipment arrived at the sub-port of Tagoloan on board Asia IPSA 018.

Last month, the BOC regional office seized 35 tons of sodium cyanide because it lacked import permits and had been undervalued and misdeclared.

The BOC-Intelligence Group issued an alert order for the shipment, which came from Korea, on July 3.

Authorities initially seized two shipping containers, but found out that two more were coming.