The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently destroyed P22 million worth of smuggled goods that were seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Among the destroyed on June 14 were 800 cartons of fake cigarettes bearing the brands Mighty and Philip Morris, as well as smuggled office supplies, rubber shoes, clothing, slippers, stationery, bags, motorcycle parts and accessories, makeup tools, and drinking glasses.
The shredded fake cigarettes were part of Zafari Trading’s shipment that was declared as bags, fabrics, plastic film, and paper with an estimated worth of P18 million.
“After due process of law, the shipment is deemed property of the government after the consignee abandoned his shipment pursuant to Section 1129 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a statement.
BOC said Zafari for unknown reasons failed to claim its shipment within the prescribed period provided by law, prompting BOC to declare a writ of abandonment for lack of interest in claiming the goods.
Section 1129 states that goods are deemed abandoned when the importer expressly signifies in writing to the district collector the intention to abandon them; when the owner fails to file the goods declaration within the prescribed period; when, having filed such goods declaration, the importer fails to pay the assessed duties, taxes, and other charges, or when the regulated goods failed to comply with Section 117 within 15 days of the date of final assessment; when, having paid the assessed duties, taxes and other charges, the importer fails to claim the goods within 30 days of payment; or when the importer fails to claim the goods in customs bonded warehouses within the prescribed period.
The other goods destroyed were consigned to Trikris Enterprises, whose shipment arrived on August 21 last year.
Lapeña said the shipment, estimated to be worth P4 million, was found to contain clothing, shoes, slippers, stationery, and other goods that did not have an import permit from the Intellectual Property Office and clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The shipment underwent seizure and forfeiture proceedings with the decision rendered in favor of the government.
“There will be more condemnation of smuggled goods to show the public that these goods are not recycled to the market. If they are dangerous to health, we do not sell them in auction, instead, we destroy them,” Lapeña said.
Agricultural products without permits from FDA such as the frequently smuggled onions, carrots, and apples, as well as fake and hazardous smuggled goods are destroyed by BOC through condemnation.
Aside from these commodities, BOC also destroys smuggled motorcycles and luxury cars as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
