MANILA: Skimming equipment and assorted blank cards and other access devices, which Philippine authorities have been on the lookout for in light of a recent rash of bank and credit card theft using such, were seized by Customs authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from a Hong Kong national.
According to NAIA Customs District III collector Edgar Macabeo, three pouches of assorted access devices with markings of Bank of Communications, SPD Bank, China Construction Bank, CGB, and USB and Sim Cards with Chinese markings were confiscated from passenger Yiu Kwan Yeung.
The skimming equipment can duplicate assorted cards or credit cards that are mostly used in casinos, Macabeo said. The access devices had one-time-passwords when inspected.
Yiu, who arrived last week at NAIA Terminal 3 on Cathay Pacific flight CX903 from Hong Kong, did not fill up the Customs declaration form because he insisted that he had nothing to declare.
Customs examiner Rachelle C. Altiche insisted on checking his baggage as part of a random check.
When the devices were discovered, the passenger was informed that unauthorized importation and non-declaration of access devices is a violation of Philippine law.
Yiu was charged before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office with violation of Republic Act 8484, or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 in relation to Section 2505, 3601 and 2530 (f) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.
