Combined elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) arrested two individuals in an entrapment operation after they allegedly demanded P1.9 million from an importer to release his shipment at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

On Wednesday, NBI director Jaime Santiago disclosed that the suspects were caught accepting marked money from the complainant, businessman Kenji Otsuka. The sting operation was executed in coordination with the BoC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and MICP officials.

“That’s how the operation went,” Santiago said, adding that the investigation is ongoing in partnership with the BoC.

Santiago said the suspects threatened Otsuka with a warrant of seizure and detention if he failed to pay the P1.9-million “grease money.” The amount, they claimed, would supposedly expedite the release of his mixed goods shipment, which had been held due to alleged misdeclarations.

“The shipment was only worth around P600,000,” Santiago said. “The amount they were demanding was almost four times that. The suspects claimed the payment would cover several divisions within the BoC.”