MANILA - A businessman and customs broker are facing criminal charges for the illegal importation of elephant tusks to Manila early this year, the Bureau of Customs said Thursday.

Charged were Antonio Vinavilles, proprietor of 201 Enterprises based in Ermita, Manila; and Merelyn Pacheco, a licensed customs broker.

The Bureau of Customs said the two used falsified documents to conceal the contents of the illegal shipment, which arrived at the port of Manila from Dares Sala, Tanzana, Africa on March 20, 2009. The shipment was allegedly misdeclared as plastic sheets and blow moulding machines.

 The importation of the elephant tusks without the required permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is prohibited under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, also known as An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitat.

 Vinavilles and Pacheco were also charged with violation of Section 3601 and 3602 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippine, which prohibit any person from  bringing into the country any prohibited article and from using fraudulent documents to facilitate the entry of the same.

Under the Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents are punishable by imprisonment of not more than six years.