THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has suspended the use of the yellow lane under its customs selectivity alert system on suspicion that it is being used by smugglers.
“The yellow lane will no longer be tapped. Only the green lane, super green lane and the red lane will be used,” Customs commissioner Angelito Alvarez said.
A moderate-risk shipment that goes through the yellow lane is subject to documentary review but no physical inspection. A low-risk shipment, on the other hand, goes through the green lane and is generally subject to no documentary review or physical inspection but is covered by the post-audit review. A high-risk shipment channels through the red lane and is subject to both documentary review and physical inspection prior to its release. The super green lane is for qualified importers of extremely low risk to provide immediate clearance.
Alvarez ordered the suspension in the wake of reports some shipments that passed through the yellow lane came from high-risk country China, and should have therefore been tagged “red” cargo.
In his order, the commissioner also sought to determine the extent of customs intervention in the processing of importations, whether these are filed under consumption or warehousing entries.
Earlier, it may be recalled that the use of the green lane was also suspended at the Manila International Container Port. Its use has since been restored.
