PR/PNA
MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday seized various fake goods worth PHP850 million inside separate warehouses in Manila and Parañaque cities.
In a news release, the BOC– Intelligence Group (IG) said Customs agents, armed with letter of authority issued by Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, discovered the counterfeit items when they inspected the warehouses.
BOC personnel first inspected three warehouses at the 8th floor of Sunjoy Tower 2 on Lavezares St. in Binondo, Manila where they found several fake goods bearing the brand names of Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Supreme, Roxy, Marvel, Hello Kitty, Billabong, among others.
“Based on the initial inspection conducted by customs agents, the three warehouse units contain roughly 2,500 sacks of wearing apparel with an estimated value of PHP700 million,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero noted that the operation stemmed from the complaint they received from the brand representative of Nike in the Philippines that there are building units in Binondo containing counterfeit items.
Meanwhile, BOC agents also checked two warehouses at Meliton Espiritu Street, Steelhauz Compound, Sucat, Parañaque.
The warehouses were found to contain PHP150 million worth of fake items of brands Nike, Adidas, Red Bull, Tsing Tao, HP, Heineken, Oakley, Under Armour, Champion, Tribal, Bench, Peppa Pig, Disney-Minions, Disney-Minnie Mouse, Cetaphil, Spiderman, Oneal, and Jaguar.
Under the Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, fake goods are classified as prohibited.
The counterfeit items are now under Customs control for safekeeping and will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of the Customs laws.
