BY JAY CHUA

CUSTOMS authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport confiscated $10,000 from a balikbayan couple yesterday for non-declaration as required by the law.

End of story? Not yet. As they say, a story goes with it.

At the Customs office, Menelio Umipig berated his wife, who was not identified, for not informing him about the money.

His wife shot back, saying that she kept the money so that her husband would not be able to use it for his favorite pastime of drinking.

The couple arrived from the United States and planned to live in retirement in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur.

The money was discovered in Mrs. Umipig’s handbag when she knelt down to pat a cash-sniffing dog on its head.

Airport customs collector Carlos So eventually released the money to the couple because if the amount is halved, each of them would only be carrying $5,000.

The United States’ Transportation Security Agency (TSA) has employed the K-9 dogs since last week to sniff incoming passengers, especially overseas Filipino workers and balikbayans in an attempt to follow the money trail of international terrorist groups which they suspect are using OFWs, balikbayans and other passengers as couriers.

Last Thursday, the TSA agents confiscated P165,000 from Bernard Le Gall, a French passenger who has a house in Bohol, for failing to declare the money.

Last week, some P900,000 was also confiscated from a Mr. Fukuta, a Japanese passenger.