A South Korean national was detained at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after customs authorities found in his luggage HK$ 3,828,975 (Php 25,729,525.02), which was believe to have been earned from a gambling activity in Hong Kong.
Kim Junheon, 35, allegedly tried to evade instructions from the customs X-ray operator to have his luggage examined on Dec. 30, ABS-CBN News quoted Atty. Marlon Agaceta, head of the Customs legal department, as saying.
According to the report, the Korean repeatedly told custom officials “No English”, when he arrived from Hong Kong.
When his luggage finally went through the X-ray, the massive sum of money was discovered as a black mass showing on the monitor.
Atty. Michael Mosquite, lawyer of Kim, questioned the holding of his client at NAIA, since he was not charged of any case within 24 hours. He is compelling the customs to provide legal documentation to detain Kim and file possible charges.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas prohibit passengers from carrying foreign currency in excess of $10,000.
Custom officials warned airline passengers to stick by this rule and reminded them not to smuggle prohibited items into the country.
Photo credit: South China Morning Post
