MANILA – Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport arrested a Chinese national for allegedly attempting to smuggle into the country thousands of cloned credit cards and skimming devices that authorities said can be used in cybercrime.

According to BOC Police Chief Lieutenant Regino Tuason, Wu Hong Sheng arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Guangzhou, China with 37 boxes which he claimed contained ready-to-wear clothing.

However, upon examination of the boxes, Tuason found the cloned credit cards and skimming devices, along with suspected fake branded products.

Cybercriminals can use a skimming device to capture data from the magnetic stripe at the back of credit or ATM card, and create a clone of a person's credit card.

Wu denied any knowledge of the boxes' contents.

The BOC is still conducting an inventory of the items the boxes contained.

Deputy Commissioner Arnel Alcaraz of the BOC's Enforcement arm said they are working with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank) to investigate the case.

Wu's case will be turned over to the Pasay Prosecutor's Office for inquest proceedings.

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