A total of 14 imported luxury vehicles were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on grounds of gross undervaluation.
Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group (EG) Ariel Nepomuceno on August 5 led the inspection of the seized vehicles which arrived on July 24 at the Batangas port from the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Hong Kong.
The 14 cars—one McLaren 450C, one Land Rover LR2, two Land Rover Defender 90s, two Mercedes Benz C200s, two Mercedes Benz GLK350s, one Toyota Prado, one 2015 Ferrari California, and four Toyota Landcruiser GXs—were consigned to Monacat Trading.
Their estimated value was at least P50 million; the importer only declared P24 million, according to BOC.
Nepomuceno said the vehicles were on their way out of the port with duties and taxes paid when EG prevented the exit. “There are car importers who misdeclare or undervalue their importations because of the costly dues and taxes attached to cars being imported. We cannot afford to lose millions of taxes due to technical smuggling. That is why the Bureau has intensified its campaign against illegal importation of vehicles,” he said.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
