Eighteen luxury cars worth more than P107 million were seized by the Bureau of Customs due to undervaluation and failure to present the documentary requirement from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The shipments which arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on separate dates from October 13 to 19 contained twelve (12) units Toyota Land Cruisers, three (3) units Range Rovers, two (2) units Chevrolet Camaro, and one (1) unit McLaren, all of current models.
According to lawyer Ruby Alameda, district collector of the said port, all shipments were processed by customs broker Roy Lasdoce and consigned to Gamma Gray Marketing with office address at Room 501, 5th floor, Champ Building, Bonifacio Drive, Anda Circle, Port Area, Manila.
The vehicles, which came from Hongkong, United Arab Emirates, and the United States were examined at the container yard at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) last October 23.
Customs chief Isidro Lapeña said the luxury cars were seized because of undervaluation and failure of consignee to provide the BIR’s Authority To Release Imported Goods (ATRIG).
The ATRIG is an authority issued by the BIR, addressed to the Commissioner, which allows the release of imported goods from the custody of Customs upon payment of rightful duties and taxes or proof of exemption from payment thereof and it must be issued prior to release from the BOC.
Imported motor vehicles, apart from payment of customs duties are subject to the imposition of excise tax, as provided for by pertinent revenue regulations from the BIR.
According to Lapeña, “If we did not alert these shipments, these could have been released from customs custody without the required ATRIG and correct valuation. The fact that the importer cannot produce the BIR clearance and declare the correct value of shipments send a signal that something is questionable with the shipments.”
Lapeña has also ordered an investigation of the customs broker and consignee’s permit to import luxury cars, to determine their liability and possible violation of Revenue Regulations Nos. 2-2016 and 25-2003 and Sections 1400 of the Republic Act No 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
According to Lapeña, “This is a blatant disregard of customs rules on importation. I am sure traders know what is required when bringing luxury vehicles into the country. I appeal to all importers not to disregard customs laws or else you will face the consequences of your malpractice.” (BOC-PR)