The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently intercepted seven containers with agricultural products, cigarettes, ukay-ukay (used clothing), and foodstuff, seizing the shipments with an estimated value of P36.5 million for misdeclaration.
The containers, which arrived on separate dates at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) from China, were declared to contain nonwoven interlining and women’s interlining, industrial fur, fresh apples, and housewares.
Upon inspection, BOC found the containers held 947 cartons of More cigarettes and 53 cartons of Marvels cigarettes; 950 boxes of Mighty cigarettes; boxes of apples mixed with onions; apples mixed with boxes of fresh carrots; and bales of ukay-ukay mixed with foodstuff that had no Food and Drug Administration permit, Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a press briefing on May 24.
Lapeña said the carrots and onions were declared as apples; the latter has 0% duty while carrots and onions have 40% and 35% duties, respectively.
BOC-MICP Office of the District Collector will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipments, which are set to be destroyed.
Lapeña noted that the seizure became possible through intelligence information received by BOC, and because the agency is now subjecting all agricultural products to 100% physical examination.
The accreditation of consignees of the seven containers—Trixcean Trading, Marid Industrial Marketing, Khalevskies Enterprises, Ashton & Ilyze Trading, and Yohann Rein Trading—and that of their signing customs brokers will be revoked, Lapeña said.
BOC will also file cases against the consignees and customs brokers for violating Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Moreover, Trixcean Trading and Marid Industrial will be penalized for violating intellectual property rights with their importation of fake cigarettes. Yohann Rein will also face charges for violating the FDA Act, while Khalevskies and Ashton & Ilyze will be cited for violating the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.
