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The Bureau of Customs filed 57 criminal and administrative complaints against unscrupulous traders and individuals in the first half
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46 were criminal cases and 11 administrative cases
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The cases involve unlawful import and export of various commodities worth P720 million
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed 57 criminal and administrative complaints against unscrupulous traders and individuals for the first half of the year, according to the mid-2022 report of the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS).
The anti-smuggling efforts of the BOC in coordination with the Department of Justice and other government agencies resulted in the filing of 46 criminal cases against 145 individuals composed of importers, exporters, and customs brokers for violations of the Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and other pertinent laws.
Similarly, 11 administrative cases were filed against licensed customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission, the BOC said in a statement.
The cases involved unlawful importation and exportation of various commodities worth P720 million, broken down into cigarettes valued at P250.6 million, agricultural products valued at P163.3 million, electronic devices (P137.9 million), general merchandise (P77.3 million), motor vehicles (P49.4 million), used clothing (P23.1 million) and other commodities (P18.4 million).
RELATED READ: BOC charges traders, broker of smuggling P25.8M agri products
BATAS is under the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group-Legal Service.
