11 arrested at Mactan for P450M in undeclared cash

Nine foreigners and two Filipinos were arrested at Mactan Cebu International Airport on Friday, May 9, for possessing nearly half a billion pesos in cash.

Security screening officers found P441,922,542, $168,730, and HKD$1,000 in seven trolley bags weighing about 70 kilos each belonging to the group of eleven passengers heading to Manila.

The suspects were intercepted during baggage inspection at around 10:30 p.m. when they attempted to board a private plane to Manila, carrying more undeclared bags than declared.

One suspect reportedly tried to bribe Cebu AVSEGROUP's chief but was unsuccessful; the total inventory of cash amounted to P441,922,542 and USD$168,730 (around PHP 9.342 million) plus HKD$1,000 (around PHP 71,000).

The suspects could face charges for violating COMELEC rules on transport of cash during the election period, anti-money laundering laws, and immigration violations.

Two out of nine foreign nationals had existing warrants of arrest, while one was found with fake driver's licenses; a separate investigation by AMLC and BI is underway.