P66M worth of misdeclared goods, ukay-ukay shipments seized at Manila port

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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized seven containers holding various beauty products, misdeclared goods, and used clothing (ukay-ukay), together having an estimated worth of P66.4 million, at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Of the seven boxes, two belonged to Skadi Trading, which imported cosmetic products worth P50 million from South Korea, BOC said in a statement. The shipments were seized when the importer failed to present, after the containers were alerted, the necessary certificate of product registration from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Another two containers, which came from China and were consigned to Hepomlan Trading, were seized for misdeclaration, lack of import permits, and lack of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, and for reportedly violating Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Hepomlan also allegedly violated Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) and Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and R.A. No. 9711, or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009.

Among Hepomlan’s seized shipments, which had an estimated worth of P8 million, were assorted smuggled merchandise items like fake watches, perfumes, cell phone batteries, garments, wallet, glass decors, LED lights, bags, calculators, takoyaki makers, children’s scooters, animal medicine, and flour.

The remaining three containers seized were consigned to EPAD Freight Fowarders. “The shipments from China, filed under the informal entry, contains ukay-ukay and used shoes,” Customs Commissioner Lapeña said, adding that the goods were altogether worth about P8.4 million.

The Office of the District Collector of MICP has put an alert on the shipments for violation of Section 1400 of CMTA and R.A. No. 4653, which prohibits the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags or ukay-ukay.

“We will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipments to prevent its release from the BOC custody,” BOC MICP district collector Atty. Vener Baquiran said.

BOC said it has apprehended more than P3 billion worth of smuggled goods in the first half of 2018.

Lapeña has warned he is serious in his fight against smugglers, and said illicit traders would be at a huge disadvantage once BOC caught up with their illegal activities.