Balikbayan box yields luxury bags, accessories worth P15M

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Photo from BOC-NAIA
Seized misdeclared high-end brands of bags, shoes, wallets, and earrings at a warehouse in Pasay City | Photo from BOC-NAIA

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seized a balikbayan (personal effects) shipment containing misdeclared high-end brands of bags, shoes, wallets and earrings valued at around P15 million.

The balikbayan box from Milano, Italy was declared as 17 cartons of personal effects such as shampoo, soap, towels, toiletries, canned goods, milk, and chocolates, BOC records showed.

But a review of commercial documents by customs examiners prompted the immediate 100% physical examination of the shipment, which confirmed that it actually consisted of bags, shoes, wallets and earrings from high-end brands Chanel, Hermes, Christian Louboutin, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Balenciaga.

“The misdeclaration is an apparent attempt to evade payment of correct duties and taxes by circumventing duty and tax free privileges afforded to balikbayan boxes,” BOC said in a statement.

Qualified Filipinos while abroad are allowed to send to their families or relatives in the Philippines balikbayan boxes which should be exempt from the payment of duties and taxes for up to three times in a calendar year.

READ: BOC rolls out implementing rules for consolidated balikbayan box shipments

BOC-NAIA district collector Carmelita M. Talusan said the shipment will be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of relevant provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Records and details of the apprehension will also be referred to BOC’s Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers for case profiling and build-up against the personalities involved in the shipment.