OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) arrested two customs brokers for attempting to extort money from a local freight forwarding company.
Customs broker Wyeth Lara Navales and her sister, Leila Lara Navales, were arrested inside a coffee shop in Ermita, Manila last Tuesday by operatives of the NBI Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division (Aotcd) and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services (CIIS)
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the two attempted to extort P1.9 million, supposedly as “grease money” for the BOC, from Kenji Otsuka of Otsuka Freight Forwarders Co., Ltd.
“This has been a long-time modus among brokers. They would extort money from these companies and individuals, claiming that the money would be used as ‘padulas (grease money)’ but then pocketing that money. These brokers have villainized the agency for their own gain,” Rubio said in a statement.
“I wholeheartedly support missions and operations like these so these brokers can face the consequences of their actions, so our officers can regain their reputation, and so no company or individual who is making an honest living will fall victim to them,” he added.
BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said that the prompt response of the BOC and the NBI was critical to the apprehension, only a day after Otsuka filed the complaint.
“It was to my understanding that the complainant was given only until June 3 to produce an additional P1.9 million on top of the P500,000 that was already previously paid for Otsuka’s shipment,” Enciso said.
“Even though the complaint was only filed on June 2, we needed to act fast in just a day to conduct the entrapment operation because there was a so-called deadline from the suspects,” Enciso said.
Otsuka, the BOC and NBI claimed to have already paid Wyeth P500,000 as an “all-inclusive engagement fee” that includes the broker’s fee and customs duties and taxes.
Otsuka decided to complain after Wyeth allegedly told him that the shipment was on hold and would be subjected to a Warrant of Seizure and Detention unless they cough up an additional P1.9 million.
The amount would allegedly be used as “grease money” for various offices that would issue the release order on Otsuka’s shipment.
The BOC said Wyeth also set a deadline of June 3 for Otsuka to shell out the amount, while making it clear that his shipment would be put on further hold after the date lapsed.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the joint NBI-BOC team, with Otsuka, then proceeded to conduct an entrapment operation.
“The joint operatives strategically positioned themselves discreetly in the vicinity and positively identified subject Wyeth along with a companion, later identified as her sister, subject Leila. Upon handing over the marked money, subject Wyeth executed an acknowledgement receipt and gave it to the complainant. At this juncture, the joint operatives immediately approached the subjects and announced their arrest,” Santiago said.
He said Wyeth underwent an Ultraviolet Light Examination at the NBI Forensic Chemistry Division, which yielded positive results for fluorescent powder dust, indicating physical contact with the entrapment money.
The two were brought to the NBI after their arrest for booking procedures and will undergo inquest proceedings for robbery with intimidation of persons by way of extortion under the Revised Penal Code.
