The Bureau of Customs (BOC), assisted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Manila Police District, and concerned citizens of Barangay 281-26 in Manila, apprehended an estimated P5 million worth of protective personal equipment (PPE) and alcohol at a store in San Nicolas, Binondo, Manila.
BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and PCG on March 26 raided the Binondo store suspected of selling overpriced PPE and alcohol, the customs bureau said in a statement.
The raid resulted in the seizure of face masks, gloves, goggles, alcohol, thermal scanners, test tubes and syringes.
The store owners were not around during the raid as the team was only assisted by the building administrator and store personnel.
The store was further verified to be undergoing renovation and only operating through online transactions.
BOC said investigation revealed that the store’s online operations were charging online buyers exorbitant prices, or almost four times the suggested retail price.
CIIS is now doing an inventory of the apprehended goods.
The owners have 15 days to present their importation documents to prove the seized items were legally procured. If they can’t, they will face smuggling charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Photo courtesy of BOC
