The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized a total of 20 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) with misdeclared information that arrived for transshipment at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on several occasions in November.
An alert was issued on the shipments, with a total estimated value of P40 million, based on questionable information gathered by Customs intelligence operatives. Upon checking, they discovered that no import entry/transshipment permit was filed for the release of these shipments within the required period of 30 days of arrival. BOC also found spurious documents were used in releasing the containers.
Among those seized were 25 TEUs declared to contain “glutinous supplies” but found to contain glutinous rice instead. These containers originated from Hong Kong and were consigned to several masters of marine vessels, including “Master of MV Aby Jeannette Co” and “Master of USBS 11 Lt Baldomero.”
Under the process of transshipment, the cargo from the first vessel is to be unloaded and transferred to another vessel and transported to another country.
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has ordered an investigation to identify personalities involved in the transshipment.
“This is an anomalous act that constitutes economic sabotage. The suspects will definitely have to face us in court,” he said. “We will do everything we can under the law so that all parties responsible for all the apprehensions we have undertaken against rice and agricultural smuggling will be taken to court and be held accountable.”
Charges of violating Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, or Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) will be filed against the culprits.
According to Teddy Raval, deputy commissioner for intelligence, abandonment proceedings were recommended against the 20 shipments pursuant to Section 1129 (Kinds, Effects of Abandonment) of the CMTA.
The other shipments seized were declared to contain furniture, marine lubricants, and base oil.
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