MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to file charges against five consignees for violation of the provisions of Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in connection with the discovery of their misdeclared shipments estimated to be worth PHP36.5 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
At the same time, Commissioner Isidro Lapeña noted that the accreditation of the consignees — Trixcean Trading, Marid Industrial Marketing, Khalevskies Enterprises, Ashton & Ilyze Trading, and Yohann Rein Trading will be revoked as well as their signing customs brokers.
“We will be filing cases against the consignees and brokers for violating Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” he said in a statement Thursday.
Trixcean and Marid will be penalized for violating Intellectual Property Rights for importing fake cigarettes; Yohann Rein will also face charges for violating the Food and Drug Administration Act; while Khalevskies and Ashton violated the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.
Lapeña together with MICP District Collector Maritess Martin on Thursday inspected the seven containers with misdeclared agricultural products, “ukay-ukay” or used clothing, and cigarettes, which arrived from China on separate dates.
They were declared to contain non-woven interlining and women interlining, industrial fur, fresh apple, and household ware.
“However, the actual contents found by the Customs authorities are very different from what was declared. They found inside are 947 cartons of More cigarettes and 53 cartons of Marvels cigarettes, 950 boxes of Mighty cigarettes, boxes of apples mixed with onion, apples mixed with boxes of fresh carrots, and bales of ‘ukay-ukay’ mixed with food without Food and Drug Administration permit” the BOC chief added.
The Office of the District Collector of MICP will issue the warrant of seizure and detention against the shipments. (PNA)
