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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal cases against two importers who misdeclared counterfeit and prohibited goods
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YJC International Corp. was charged with importation and misdeclaration of 1,599 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes worth P76.8 million
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A case against MBS Cargo Movers Co. revolves around illegal importation and misdeclaration of 344 boxes of used clothing
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The two consignees and their customs brokers were charged for various violations of several relevant customs and intellectual property laws
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal cases against two importers for alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of counterfeit and prohibited goods, including P76.838 million worth of fake cigarettes.
The Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) charged YJC International Corp. before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for unlawful importation and misdeclaration of 1,599 cartons (79,950 reams) of counterfeit cigarettes with a total value of P76.838 million.
The consignee had declared on January 3, 2021 at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) that its shipment consisted of plastic frames and sheets, BOC said in a statement.
Another case was filed against MBS Cargo Movers Co. for alleged illegal importation and misdeclaration of 344 boxes of used clothing or ukay-ukay. The shipments were declared as personal effects on August 10, 2020 at the MICP.
The two consignees and their customs brokers were charged for various violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act), RA 4653 (An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags), RA 10963 (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion), RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines), The Revised Penal Code, and National Tobacco Administration rules and regulations.
Administrative cases before the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) will also be filed against the involved customs brokers.
BOC in 2020 and up to January 8, 2021 has filed a total of 127 cases against erring importers and customs brokers for violations of the CMTA and other pertinent laws.
Of the total, 75 criminal cases were against various importers filed before the DOJ while 52 administrative cases were filed against customs brokers before the PRC.
