Importers, customs brokers face criminal raps over P49.3M shipments

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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on May 7 filed before the Department of Justice criminal complaints against two importers and a customs broker for misdeclaration and the unlawful importation of minerals and exhaust fans and cigarettes altogether worth a combined P49.268 million.
  • The Bureau of Customs has filed criminal complaints against two importers and a customs broker for alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of minerals, exhaust fans and cigarettes worth a combined P49.268 million
  • The first case involved P1.77 million worth of misdeclared two 40-footer containers of minerals and exhaust fans consigned to GJ & M Global Resources
  • The second case was levied against Atlantic Globe Movers, Inc. for the alleged unlawful importation of cigarettes amounting to P47.498 million
  • Since January 2021, a total of 32 criminal cases have been filed by BOC before the Department of Justice

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal complaints against two importers and a customs broker for misdeclaration and the unlawful importation of minerals and exhaust fans and cigarettes altogether worth a combined P49.268 million.

The Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers, coordinating with BOC-Manila International Container Port (MICP) and BOC-Cebu, filed the complaints on May 7 before the Department of Justice (DOJ), BOC said in a statement.

The first case involved P1.77 million worth of misdeclared two 40-footer containers of minerals and exhaust fans consigned to GJ & M Global Resources. The consignee and its customs broker were charged for the alleged misdeclaration of the importation on January 7, 2021 at the Port of Cebu.

The respondents purportedly violated pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended.

The second case was filed against Atlantic Globe Movers, Inc. for the alleged unlawful importation of 930 master cases of Fortune Blue cigarettes amounting to P47.498 million on February 18, 2021 at the MICP.

The importer allegedly violated the CMTA; Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006; Republic Act No. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act; National Tobacco Administration (NTA) No. 079-2005; NTA Memorandum Circular No. 03, series of 2004; and the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Since January 2021, a total of 32 criminal cases have been filed by BOC before the DOJ.

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