Firearms, ammunition found in packages of solar panels, tool cart

Firearms and several rounds of ammunition were discovered in two packages supposed to only contain solar panels and a tool cart during a recent inspection by Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents in a warehouse in Pasay City.

The Customs agents from the Port of NAIA found eight pistol firearms -- Glock 19-9MM and Heckler & Koch P2000 V3 Pistol; 20 ammunition magazines; and 266 live ammunition in two outbound packages from Taiwan.

The shipments were only declared as solar panels and tool cart, which were used to conceal the handguns and ammunition. The Customs bureau estimated the seized items at around 1500,000.

The seized items, the bureau furthered, were discovered through profiling and subsequent x-ray examination of the shipments. The name of the consignee and the sender, however, were withheld for further investigation.

The bureau reiterated that exportation of firearms and ammunition through fraudulent misdeclaration and without necessary permits is a violation of Section 119A, 1400, 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.