Shipment of ‘Hair Clips’ Reveals 178 Spiders, Bureau of Customs Intercepts

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted a shipment from Indonesia falsely declared as “hair clips,” which was found to contain 178 spiders—157 live and 21 deceased—hidden in vials.

The parcel, bound for Valenzuela City, was flagged for inspection due to its suspicious declaration, leading authorities to discover the concealed arachnids.

Violations and Actions

The shipment violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) as well as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which prohibits the illegal trade of wildlife.

The spiders were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENR) for proper handling and investigation.

Safeguarding Wildlife

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating smuggling and protecting the country’s ecological balance.

“Preventing smuggling is essential in safeguarding wildlife and maintaining national biosecurity and ecological balance,” Rubio stated.

Ongoing Efforts

The interception highlights the BOC’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal wildlife trade. Recent operations also uncovered smuggled rare wood and counterfeit goods worth billions of pesos.