Bureau of Customs (BOC), through the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group and the Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, in collaboration with the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), auctioned off six units of forfeited luxury vehicles on April 27 at the BTr Auction Room, Ayuntamiento Building, Intramuros, Manila.
The public auction sale was overseen by the Inter-Agency Auction Committee.
The forfeited luxury vehicles consisted of one unit each of used Porsche Boxster 2001, used Mercedes Benz SLK350 2001, used Ferrari Scuderia 430 2008, used Mercedes Benz SLK55 2001, used Mercedes Benz E220 2011, and a brand-new Mercedes Benz G500.
The said vehicles were consigned to JLDFM Consumer Good Trading and Frebel Enterprise, and were seized at the Manila International Container Port and the Port of Manila, respectively.
Upon 100% physical examination, it was found out that the luxury vehicles were undeclared, resulting in seizure and forfeiture for violation of Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The used Mercedes SLK350 2001 and SLK55 2001 were both sold to RMCE Metal Products while the Mercedes Benz G500 was sold to Mopen Trading Corporation. A total of P6,305,000.00 non-traditional revenue was collected from the public auction.
BOC under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero assures the public that the agency will remain vigilant against the entry of smuggled goods in the country. (BOC)
