QUARANTINE officials at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport yesterday impounded 160 pieces of fresh eggs from a Japanese passenger
who came in with other Japanese tourists from Narita.
Customs examiner Elizabeth Ayonon said three passengers —
Yoshimi Kano, 44; Yokohama Shinichi, 44 and his wife Hideko — presented their
bags to her for inspection after disembarking from a Japan Airlines plane. She
said she was about to end the inspection when she noticed two boxes on the floor
that had not been shown to her.
When she inquired what the boxes contained, Kano, who is
reportedly married to a Filipina, seemed hesitant which prompted her to ask him
to open the boxes. Neatly arranged inside, 80 pieces to a box, were the
white-shelled eggs.
Quarantine official Nilo Kristal promptly ordered the eggs
seized based on an ordinance banning the entry of meat and other fowl products
from bird-flu infected countries, which include Japan.
Kristal said that in the last few days, they have also impounded several
kilos of Peking duck, chicken feet, meat and sausages from several passengers
who had no import permits. – Jay Chua
