35 tons of sodium cyanide seized in Misamis
TAGOLOAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized a total of 35 tons of sodium cyanide worth millions of pesos, and believed to be headed to mining communities in Mindanao, at a port here due to lack of import permit, for being undervalued and for misdeclaration of the shipment’s true quantity.
According to BOC Region 10 Intelligence Officer II Alvin Y. Enciso, two container vans were initially seized at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in this town with Korea as its port of origin.
Enciso said two more container vans of sodium cyanide that were shipped by consignee, Central Combal Mining Supply Corporation (CCSMC), were also confiscated. The large shipment of the highly poisonous chemical is now being held by the BOC at the MCT here.
Enciso said a warrant of seizure had been issued by Ruby Claudia Alameda, acting district collector, against the Central Combal Mining Supply Corp.’s (CCMSC) shipment which arrived at the MCT-Sub-Port on July 2 on board the Asia Ipsa V. 015, covered by Bill of Lading No. APLU 011229519 and declared under Import Entry No. C-5277-15.
“We were suspicious because the importation permit that was given to the consignee, Central Combal Mining Supply Corp., came from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) based in Region 4 when the importation (was done) here in Region 10,” Enciso said.
Enciso said the Mines Geosciences Bureau in Region-10 said that the importation permit issued by EMB-4 was void, because it was the office that should release the permit to the consignee in this region.