Customs chief Isidro Lapeña inspected Monday various seized goods estimated at P12.9 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
According to Lapeña, the smuggled shipments, which arrived at MICP on different occasions, were alerted and seized for misdeclaration and lack of import permits.
BOC agents uncovered P5.4 million worth of yellow onions and fresh potatoes inside three abandoned containers from China. The shipments, consigned to ZIDP Trading, arrived at the port on December 8, 2017. It was misdeclared as fresh apples and lacked the necessary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
A shipment from Korea, declared as assorted wearing apparel, yielded suspicious images after x-ray scanning which prompted Customs personnel to conduct physical examination. The shipment was discovered to contain used clothing and was seized in violation of the Republic Act No. 4653 which bans the importation of such. The shipment was consigned to R.L. Son Trading and arrived at the port on November 29, 2017.
Customs agents also found P2 million worth of Chunghua soft cigarettes contained inside an overstaying cargo from Korea which was consigned to Maxafrica Mfg. Pvt. Ltd.. The consignee failed to present the corresponding permit from the National Tobacco Administration which led to its seizure. It arrived at the port on September 30, 2017.
A shipment consigned to Japare International Trading and declared as used compressors and water pumps was later discovered to contain used motorbikes. The misdeclared shipment came from Japan and arrived at the port on September 22, 2017. It is reported to be worth P500,000.
Four containers of onions consigned to Kavin Shipping Ltd. were also seized by BOC agents for lack of import permit from the BPI. The shipments from China arrived at the port on September 15, 2017 and were estimated to be worth P4 million. The successful discovery stemmed from the strict examination of importation documents by customs personnel.
According to MICP district collector, lawyer Ruby Claudia Alameda, all shipments will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
After the forfeiture proceedings, the used motorbikes will be auctioned to the public to indemnify the government of the duties and taxes due on the shipment. Meanwhile, the cigarettes, onions, used clothing, and potatoes shall undergo condemnation as provided by the applicable provision in the CMTA.
On the same day, Commissioner Lapeña also witnessed the demonstration of condemnation process of various seized fake products such as sandals, slippers, and shoes. The shipments were consigned to EMT Trading.
The total value of fake products subject to condemnation is estimated to be more than P4 million.
“This is a good way to start the year. How our bureau personnel conduct their jobs and the available technology we have, the x-rays — this is a good combination to safeguard our ports and our consumers and even legitimate traders from smuggled products. This year, the BOC will really give the smugglers their most difficult time,” Lapeña declares. (BOC-PR)
