Several containers with misdeclared contents worth more than P3 million were recently seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
MICP District Collector Ruby Alameda reported that the misdeclared items were found in 11 shipments, of which four were processed by customs broker Toni Rose L. Amoyen with office address at 2006 Del Carmen St., Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City. The four were consigned to Gandar Import and Export Trading with office address at Duhat St., Sto. Domingo Village, P2 Don A Pilar Sasa, Davao City, and to JJTS International Trading with office address at Breb II Bldg., Unit 202, M. H Del Pilar St., Santolan, Malabon City.
The remaining shipments were handled by customs broker Mary Faith Duran Miro with address at Roosevelt St., Tulic, Argao, and were all consigned to Malaya Multi-Purpose Cooperative located in Mapaniqui, Candaba, Pampanga.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the shipments were seized after customs examiners found irregularity in the declared weight.
“The container weighs more than the declared weight in the entry declaration that’s why it was physically examined, it was through profiling that we were able to intercept the goods,” Lapeña said in a statement.
The shipments consigned to Gandar Import and Export Trading were all declared as holding fabrics but were found to contain used clothing, fake Nike shoes, automotive parts, rolls of fabric, as well as rice.
As for the shipments consigned to JJTS International Trading, they were declared to contain fabrics, apparel, and LED lamps, but was instead loaded with onions and fabrics.
While Malaya Multi-Purpose Cooperative declared the imported goods as fresh apples, pears, and frozen pork cheek meat, the physical examination revealed fresh apples mixed with white onions, apples mixed with carrots, and pears mixed with white onions.
During the inspection of the seized shipments on October 10, Lapeña said the cargoes will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and Intellectual Property Law.
“The fake Nike shoes will be turned over to the Intellectual Property Rights Division for proper disposal while the onions, pears, carrots, and used clothing will be destroyed,” the customs chief said.
After they are forfeited, the rice, general merchandise, fabrics, and automotive parts will be auctioned to indemnify the government of the duties and taxes due on the shipments, he added.
The consignees and their customs brokers are also under investigation for smuggling.
Lapeña noted that the rampant smuggling of agricultural products and counterfeit goods has an “adverse effect on the local farmers and legitimate brand owners in the country.”
“This should discourage businessmen and traders who are into illicit trade. BOC will detect these shipments and catch up with them,” he said.
