At least P10 million worth of imported medicines owned by Zuellig Pharma Corp. were released to a broker at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport without its knowledge.

The cargo, weighing 575 kilos of dextrose and regulated substances, arrived sometime last month and was cleared by Customs for pullout by Majestic Freight Forwarders.

Zuellig learned about the shipment after representatives of Majestic demanded P1,478,699 as reimbursement for duties and taxes paid in advance.

Zuellig lawyer, Jon Michael Alamis, told customs authorities that the forwarder managed to obtain an airway bill for the shipment, but it was not received by the firm.

Silveria Salazar, chief of the collection division of Naia customs, told Zuellig that there was no record of payment for the shipment.

Majestic, Alamis said, presented a Landbank official receipt 240495 as proof of the P1.4-million duties and taxes paid.

But LandBank at Naia said the receipt was intact and has not been issued.

Zuellig said the shipment was being held without its authority even as it expressed concern that improper storage could make the dextrose and the medicines harmful if used. Vito Barcelo