The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal cases against three importers due to illegal and irregular activities and transactions.
The agency’s legal arm, Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), along with the Port of Cebu and Port of Cagayan De Oro, filed smuggling charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Vjemm Commodities Export Import Inc. and its customs broker for alleged illegal importation and misdeclaration of ten 20-footer containers carrying steel tile wires, angle bars, and other metals.
The misdeclared products cost ₱8,742,368.19 including duties and taxes which was intercepted last September 10, 2019, at the Port of Cebu.
VJEMM Commodities Export Import Inc. and its customs broker were charged for violation of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and the Revised Penal Code.
BATAS filed smuggling charges against Sixtynine Enterprise and its customs broker for alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of three 40-footer containers of various fake cigarettes.
The said goods estimated to be ₱115,861,139.52 were seized last 12 January 2021 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.
AMHS Export and Import Trading was indicted due to alleged unlawful importation of misdeclared cigarettes valued at ₱38,738,090.36 last September 19, 2020 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.
Both AMHS Export and Import Trading and Sixtynine Enterprise together with their customs brokers are facing criminal complaints for the alleged violation of several pertinent provisions under the Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006, TRAIN Law, various issuances of the National Tobacco Administration, and the Revised Penal Code.
Sixtynine Enterprise allegedly violated the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines for importing fake cigarettes into the country.
A total of ₱163,341,597 worth of illegal products were apprehended from these three importers. The customs bureau pledged to intensify its partnership with the DOJ and further tighten its investigation efforts and prevent the proliferation of smuggled goods and contrabands in the country.- Cleizl Pardilla
