Charges have been levied against the consignee of used tires seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and an importer of assorted pieces of jewelry brought in through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The smuggled items have a total value of P18 million, according to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
BOC on February 26 sued Respawnable Enterprises general manager Jubannie B. Berces and several unidentified individuals for alleged unlawful importation of two 40-footers containing tires with an approximate value of P3 million.
The respondents were charged with violating Section 3601 (unlawful importation) in relation to Sections 2503 (undervaluation, misclassification and misdeclaration in entry) and 2530 (property subject to forfeiture under tariff and customs laws) (L-2) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), as amended.
Moreover, BOC cited Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 1086 series of 1980 which states that “effective January 1, 1982, the importation of used tires shall no longer be allowed.”
Smuggling of jewelry
Also charged was Rosemarie G. Clemente, who arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 from Hong Kong on September 15, 2015, allegedly bringing in 259 pieces of jewelry—55 rings, 116 earrings, 18 bracelets, 40 necklaces, and 30 pendants—with an estimated total value of P15 million. The respondent was accused of violating Section 3601 in relation to Sections 2503 and 2530 of the TCCP.
Agents and officers of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations Service under the Intelligence Group carried out the apprehensions of the smuggled items, BOC said.
More anti-smuggling ops
Meanwhile, BOC reported more apprehensions of various shipments that had been misdeclared or undeclared, or had lacked proper permits when they were brought into the country formally or in passenger baggage.
Last month, a baggage that arrived at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIAA) was held for containing undeclared demilitarized firearms consisting of one 5.5-inch pistol fires caps, one 1873 black farmer’s pistol, and one BKA 73. The seized items lacked clearance from the PNP-Firearms and Explosives Office, BOC said in a statement.
On another occasion also at MCIAA, two pieces of baggage arriving separately from Singapore and Malaysia were placed on alert and held following confirmation the undeclared goods were supplements (multi-brain nutrients and bio iron) and assorted herbal medicine, respectively, that had no clearance from the Food and Drugs Administration.
A shipment from China that arrived at MICP through the formal entry division was also issued an alert order for being declared to contain woven sacks, but which later yielded a variety of undeclared printing plates with an assessed dutiable value of P319,163.
BOC-MICP recommended the issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention against the undeclared items for violation of Section 2503 in relation to Section 2530 of the TCCP, as amended.
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