With the marching order of the Secretary of Finance Carlos P. Dominguez to step up drive against smuggling, the Bureau of Customs on Monday, November 27, seized P24.3 million worth of used luxury cars and overweight steel products at Manila International Container Port.
Based on reports, Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the shipments came from Australia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and China.
A used 2012 Lamborghini Glardo consigned to a certain Allan Garcia with address at Dolores St. Perpetual Subd. Paligui, Apalit, Pampanga; 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago consigned to a certain Veronica Angeles with address at 385 Sampaloc San Rafael, Bulacan; and a white 2005 Ferrari F430 shipped to a certain Mary Joy Aguanta with address at Blk. 5 Lot 33 Phase1A, Villa Trinita, Cagayan de Oro.
The shipments, processed by customs broker Christian Lao, and Roy Lasdoce respectively, which arrived in 2016 and May 2017 all came from UAE.
“MICP district collector lawyer Ruby Alameda issued a warrant for seizure and detention on the cargoes because of overstaying in the container yard of ICTSI,” Lapeña said.
A misdeclared shipment consigned to a certain Dorotea Sadang declared as personal effect and household goods was also busted by the bureau after x-ray machines produced image discrepancy. As per x-ray image, a vehicle was misdeclared together with personal effects.
Dorotea Sadang’s address, according to reports of MICP, is at 158 Andres Bonifacio Diffun Quirino.
Meanwhile, two shipments consigned to Hongtaisheng Steel Inc. was seized due to discrepancy in declared weight.
Commissioner Lapeña said the shipments were seized due to violation of Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act while the luxury cars were seized “due to overstaying and lack of Authority to Release Imported Goods (ATRIG).”
“These shipments will undergo forfeiture proceedings to know their liability to the government,” said Lapeña. (BOC-PR)
