Importers, brokers slapped criminal raps for alleged smuggling

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  • Criminal cases were filed against two importers and their customs brokers over alleged illegal importation of general merchandise and agricultural products worth P9.8 million
  • Arma Consumer Goods Trading is facing smuggling charges for importing steel coils and face shields with a total value of P959,165 at the Port of Manila
  • Zhenpin Consumer Goods Trading has been charged for unlawful importation and misdeclaration of various agricultural products amounting to P8.8 million at the Port of Subic
  • Administrative cases will be filed before the Professional Regulation Commission against the licensed customs brokers

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal cases against two importers and their customs brokers for the alleged illegal importation of general merchandise and agricultural products worth a combined total of P9.777 million.

Criminal cases were filed on March 5 against Arma Consumer Goods Trading and Zhenpin Consumer Goods Trading, BOC said in a statement. The charges were filed before the Department of Justice by the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers and the collection districts of the Port of Manila and Subic.

Arma is facing smuggling charges for the alleged unlawful importation at the Port of Manila of steel coils and face shields with a total value of P959,164.59 on June 25, 2020.

The importer and customs broker were charged for alleged violation of Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) in relation to Sections 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation, in Goods Declaration), 1403 (Other Fraudulent Practices Against Customs Revenue) and 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture), 404 (Owner of Imported Goods) and 405 (Liability of Importer for Duties and Taxes) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Article 172 (Falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents) in relation to Article 171 (Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastic minister) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended.

Meanwhile a criminal case has been filed against Zhenpin for the alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration at the Port of Subic of various agricultural products such as carrots and broccoli amounting to P8.817 million.

Zhenpin and its customs broker are facing 12 counts of violations of Section 1401 in relation to Sections 1400, 1403, 1113, 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation), 107 (Rights and Responsibilities of the Declarant), 404 and 412 (Statements to be Provided in the Goods Declaration) of the CMTA, Sections 3 and 4 of RA 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, Department of Agriculture Circular No. 04 series of 2016, and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the RPC, as amended.

BOC will also file administrative cases before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) against the involved licensed customs brokers.

During 2020 and through January 8, 2021, BOC 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 filed against various importers before the DOJ while 52 administrative cases were filed against customs brokers before the PRC.