The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently seized various fake goods worth an estimated P850 million inside warehouse units in Binondo, Manila and in Sucat, Parañaque City.
“The operation stemmed from the complaint we received from the brand representative of Nike in the Philippines that there are building units in Binondo containing fake goods. This prompted our intelligence team to conduct an investigation on the subject warehouse units,” Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said.
Under Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, fake goods are classified as prohibited.
Armed with Letter of Authority (LOA) No. 01-30-114-2019 dated January 25 and signed by Guerrero, customs agents visited several warehouse units in Sunjoy Tower 2, 525 Lavezares St., Binondo and found several fake goods bearing the brand names of Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Supreme, Roxy, Marvel, Hello Kitty, and Billabong, among others.
“Based on the initial inspection conducted by customs agents, the three warehouse units contain roughly 2,500 sacks of wearing apparel with an estimated value of P700 million,” Guerrero said.
Another LOA was issued, this time against two warehouses located on Meliton Espiritu Street, Steelhauz Compound, Sucat, Parañaque City. When inspected by customs operatives, the warehouses were found to contain P150 million worth of fake items of brands like Nike, Adidas, Red Bull, Tsing Tao, HP, Heineken, Oakley, Under Armour, Champion, Tribal, Bench, Peppa Pig, Disney-Minions, Disney-Minnie Mouse, Cetaphil, Spider-Man, Oneal, and Jaguar.
The fake goods are now all under customs control for safekeeping and will undergo seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of customs laws.
During an inspection on January 31, Guerrero said BOC is still conducting investigation on the origin country of the fake items, their importers, and the possible collusion of some customs personnel who may have facilitated the illegal entry of the items into the country.
