MANILA — The Bureau of Customs–Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted undeclared foreign currency from an arriving passenger at NAIA Terminal 1.

Customs personnel discovered a total of JPY 10,000,000, estimated at PhP3,762,000, in the passenger’s possession. Only JPY 1,560,000, or $10,000.00, was returned to the traveler as it fell within the allowable limit. The remaining JPY 8,440,000, valued at approximately PhP3,175,128, was confiscated after the passenger failed to declare the cash in the e-Travel system.

The bureau said the undeclared amount violated Sections 117, 1400, and 1401 of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as well as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Manual of Regulations on Foreign Exchange Transactions.

BOC-NAIA, led by District Collector Atty. Yasmin O. Mapa, said it continues to intensify inspection protocols and enforce stricter measures under the administration’s financial integrity and anti-smuggling initiatives.

BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno lauded airport personnel for their vigilance, saying, “This interception reflects our firm commitment to enforcing cross-border reporting requirements and ensuring that illicit financial activity has no space at our ports.”