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The Bureau of Customs has filed criminal cases against three importers for alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of prohibited goods
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Cases were filed against Akiza One Six Eight Eight Eight Trading, Summer Beast Enterprises Co., and GT Enterprise
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Since Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero took over the agency in 2018, 112 cases have been filed before the Department of Justice against importers and customs brokers
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal cases against three importers for alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of prohibited goods including used clothing, various food stuffs and household items.
The cases were recently filed before the Department of Justice by the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) against Akiza One Six Eight Eight Eight Trading, Summer Beast Enterprises Co., and GT Enterprise.
The case against Akiza involves alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of 100 sacks of used clothing, locally known as ukay-ukay, and 450 sacks and 150 cartons of mixed fabrics and swatches.
According to BATAS, the consignee declared its shipment, which arrived at Manila International Container Port (MICP) last year, as used surplus furniture and kitchenware.
Summer Beast was also charged for alleged illegal importation and misdeclaration of 539 bales of used clothing and other goods such as inkjet glossy paper, yoga mat, wearing apparel, phone holder, various foodstuffs, air purifier, various cellphone accessories, cellphones, USB, vape, medicines, medical supplies, personal effects, and antennas.
The consignee declared its shipment as Xueya brand paper products, Blue King brand led light strip, Medial brand yoga mat, Wellone Brand wearing apparel, and Topo brand phone holder. BOC said the violation was committed on October 19, 2020 in MICP.
The third case is against GT Enterprise for alleged smuggling of five shipments declared as 6,060 cartons of ceramic kitchenware but found loaded with 9,102 cartons of Banma mosquito coils, 218 cartons of dinnerware, and 50 pieces banma mosquito empty cartons. The violation occurred on August 19, 2020 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.
BOC said the consignees and their respective licensed customs brokers committed various violations against Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act; RA 4653 or 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; Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2014-0038 or the Rules and Regulations Governing Household/Urban Pesticides Licensing of Establishments and Operators, Registration of Their Products and for Other Purpose; and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
Since Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero took over the BOC in 2018, 112 cases have been filed before DOJ against importers and customs brokers.
