Smuggled from US: Gun parts seized at Cagayan de Oro port

From Rappler (Mar 2): Smuggled from US: Gun parts seized at Cagayan de Oro port

(UPDATED) The gun parts are hidden in two tractors and a second-hand Harley Davidson motorcycle, as well as mixed with tools inside the container van



SEIZED. Intelligence agents of the customs bureau find gun parts inside two tractors and a motorcycle in a container van at a Cagayan de Oro extension port. Photo courtesy of Bureau of Customs

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday, March 2, the confiscation of gun parts at a Cagayan de Oro port as part of its investigation into the possible smuggling of arms involving a United States lawmaker.

(READ: US lawmaker trading firearms with PH Muslim rebels)

The Customs Intelligence Group at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) seized misdeclared barrels of Caspian and Glock, butt stock, spring, hand grips, and Magpul magazines for M4 rifles, as well as gun cases and other accessories shipped from the US.

From the seized parts, customs investigators were able to assemble 4 firearms:

• Glock 42 (.380 caliber)
• Ruger LC (.380 caliber)
• STI (.40 caliber) with Caspian slide
• M4 Spikes Tactical (5.5 caliber)

The MCT, a sub-port of Cagayan de Oro Port, is in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental.

The gun parts were hidden in two tractors and a second-hand Harley Davidson motorcycle, which in turn were in a 40-foot container van. They were also mixed with tools inside the container to avoid detection.

“We have been monitoring the shipment for so long because of the information we received it contains a motorcycle,” Enciso said. “We would check if there are other gun parts hidden in the trucks that could be assembled,” said Alvin Enciso, officer-in-charge of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao.

On paper, the consignee of the shipment was Starling Trading, and the customs broker was a certain Oliver Lisondra. However, Enciso said the intelligence group is looking into the involvement of a “port operator” in the smuggling attempt.

Charges of misdeclaration and unauthorized importation of gun parts, among others, will be filed against the suspects, Enciso said.

Years before this, Lynard Allan Bigcas, a well-known car dealer in Mindanao, was arrested after a raid on his house yield smuggled luxury car, motor vehicles, and weapons.

The BOC started investigating gun smuggling in Cagayan de Oro after receiving reports in 2014 that California state senator Leland Yee was selling firearms to Muslim rebels in the Philippines, shipping the supplies through Cagayan de Oro.

(READ: How 'Uncle Leland' betrayed the Filipinos he loved)

http://www.rappler.com/nation/124389-us-gun-smuggling-cagayan-de-oro-port