Shipment of soft shell turtles blocked at NAIA

An attempt to smuggle wildlife species bound for Taiwan was foiled Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Bureau of Customs said yesterday.

Seven packages loaded with 123 Chinese Soft Shell Turtle mixed with live eels were intercepted by Customs agents before it could be brought to Taiwan via China Airlines CI-704.

"It was through profiling and manual examination of the Export Division that the bureau was able to intercept the shipment of 3H Enterprises Ltd.," Lapeña said during a press conference Saturday.

The turtles were reportedly from Pampanga and its transport did not have any export permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said that, according to the DENR, the exportation of the turtles were allowed, but only if the exporter obtains permits from the agency.

Further verification showed that the shipper's address was at 97 PanginayGuiguinto, Bulacan while the consignee was Jan Birt Co. Ltd. with address at 1F-1, No. 178, Sec. 1 Zhengxiao E. Rd. Zhongsheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan.

According to the DENR, Soft Shell Turtles are in demand in China and were being sold for 29 to 40 dollars.

"This soft shell species, it is exported to Taiwan because it is in demand in that country," Lapeña said.

It was also disclosed that the Soft Shell Turtles were "actually pests in Pampanga and Bulacan."

Soft Shell Turtles, DENR said, are invasive species that eat fish, snails, and "they almost eat everything in the farm because they are invasive species."

"These turtles aside from being endemic to China and Taiwan can also be farmed. They are usually harvested for food and folk remedy tonics, however, it is a regulated export, a permit from DENR must be secured first prior to exportation," NAIA District Collector Ramon Anquilan said.

DENR also said Filipino entrepreneurs have found a way to make a living out of the turtles but exporting them to China, where they are cooked as local cuisine.

The Customs bureau will turn the seized animals over to the DENR for disposition. The turtles will be brought back to their natural habitat, the DENR said.

The market value of the turtles was still being determined.