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Authorities in the Philippines are filing smuggling charges against 10 aircrew members from the Philippines who tried to bring home onions and fruit from the United Arab Emirates and Western Saudi Arabia, local media reported last Saturday.
The Philippine Airlines crew - who arrived on two separate flights from Dubai (PR 659) and Riyadh (PR 655) on Friday - were caught with 27 kg of onions, 10.5 kg of lemons, 1 kg of strawberries and blueberries, according to local radio in Manila. The confiscated goods were found in the suitcases when flight attendants arrived at Manila International Airport's Terminal 1, according to the report, in addition to a citation from an airport customs officer.
Lawyer Ma Lourdes Mangaoang told the radio station that the flight attendants did not declare the confiscated vegetables and fruits on the form Customs baggage statement. The
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Garlic, onions and other products found in the flight attendants' luggage (photo: screenshot, Philippine Customs Office)
In a previous report by Khaleej Times (a daily published in Dubai), a government official clarified that putting onions or any other agricultural product in cargo is considered an import - even in quantities for personal use.
"Vegetables and fruits are imported through a certain process, which requires the receipt of various permits," said Nolt Fulgencio, Agriculture Attaché at the Consulate General of the Philippines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
The above reminder comes as many Filipino travelers are flying home with suitcases full of onions, given how the price of the vegetable has soared to 600 Philippine pesos per kilogram in Manila, which is about NIS 37 per kilogram.
The customs authorities transferred the smuggling of the agricultural products to the Plant Quarantine Office for immediate destruction.
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The price of onions jumped to 600 Philippine pesos per kg in Manila. The onions that were smuggled out by the flight attendants, and not only (Photo: screenshot, Philippine Customs Office)
The law requires plants to be quarantined before they enter the country
The members of the air crew who are now expected to face charges regarding smuggling in violation of the Customs Tariff Law and Presidential Decree 1433, for violating a law that requires plants to be quarantined before entering the country.
The airline was informed of the incident and flight attendants were reminded that bringing any fruit or plants into the country is prohibited, according to a Philippine Airlines spokesperson.
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flight attendants
The Philippines
Dubai
smuggling
Onion