BOC seizes nuclear wastes from China
by Journal Online (Philippines)
7 June 2006 – A nuclear power plant residue called “black powder” from China was uncovered by Customs authorities at Port of Manila (POM) in South Harbor, Manila.
The prohibited shipment under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposals was passed-off as “mill scales” but it was actually residues from a nuclear waste that contained Iron (FE) and Copper (CU) from China.
Bureau of Customs’ officer-in-charge Deputy Commissioner Celso P. Templo told People’s Tonight that the 13 20-footer container vans of “black powder” which arrived at South Harbor from China on Oct. 23, last year was consigned to Jowood Industries owned by a certain James Ong.
The hazardous waste was discovered through the combined efforts of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Jairus Paguntalan, Intelligence Division chief IO5 Fernandino Tuazon and POM-Intelligence chief IO2 Teddy Sagaral.
According to Customs Commissioner Napoleon “Boy” Morales, the “black powder” entered the country under the guise of “returned shipment.” The consignee alleged that the prohibited cargoes were exported to China but were returned to the Philippines for lack of relevant environmental certificate stipulated by the government of China.
Laboratory analysis conducted by Philippine Nuclear Institute on samples taken revealed that it contained copper and iron scraps prohibited for transport.
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