The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently seized two undeclared brand-new Kawasaki jet skis worth US$8,000 (P417,000) and a used 2008 Porsche (worth P1.5 million) without an import permit at the Port of Cebu.
In a statement, BOC said the 2017-model jet skis were shipped from the United States in a 40-foot container that was declared to hold used personal effects, and arrived in the Philippines on February 6 at the Cebu port.
The container was consigned to Imerex Group of Companies, Inc. with office address at J. Several St. North Reclamation Area, Cebu City. The customs broker for the shipment was identified as one Christopher Saavedra with office address at Jakosalem, Cebu City.
BOC’s X-ray Inspection Project office recommended the issuance of warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) against the shipment while the declared personal effects in the container were recommended for continued processing.
Cebu district collector Atty. Elvira Cruz issued the WSD against the undeclared jet skis on March 27 for violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification and Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The jet skis and the Porsche are currently stored in the container area of Port of Cebu.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, meanwhile, said that the newly installed x-ray machines at BOC ports are proving to be useful in the campaign against smuggling.
“The BOC’s strict border security and monitoring results in higher returns in revenue collection of the bureau,” he said.
A portion of the additional budget of BOC amounting to P1.4 billion for 2018 will be allocated to buying 56 additional x-ray machines, Lapeña said.
