Joint operatives from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have apprehended the owner of a condemnation facility caught reselling used clothing (ukay-ukay) to the local market.
BOC Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and NBI on January 17 apprehended Francis Lesaca, the alleged owner of EPY ECO Condemnation Facility located at Metrowarehouse Center in Guiguinto, Bulacan, said BOC-Manila International Container Port (MICP) district collector Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria in a statement.
An estimated P1 million worth of used clothing that was originally intended for condemnation but was reportedly being resold to the public was seized from the property.
Republic Act (RA) No. 4653 prohibits the importation of used clothing and rags in commercial quantity to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation.
Austria said the joint enforcement operations of CIIS led by intelligence officer Alvin Enciso and NBI-Special Action Unit headed by Atty. Emeterio Dongallo inspected EPY ECO on suspicion of violating Section 1401 (Unlawful importation or exportation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The operation was supported by a letter of authority and a mission order both issued by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.
After two meetings on the morning of January 17, the joint operatives proceeded to EPY ECO, where an asset and an NBI personnel acted as poseur buyers of the used clothing.
After concluding the deal and the boxes of used clothing were being loaded into the hired closed van, the NBI personnel and the asset gave the prearranged signal for the other operatives to make the arrest.
Lesaca was arrested by NBI operatives and brought to Manila for further questioning and detention.
Image courtesy of JanPietruszka at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
