Customs commissioner Isidro Lapeña inspected on Oct 12 seven containers of carrots and used clothes, shoes and toys worth P3.77 million abandoned at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
MICP district collector Atty Balmyrson Valdez issued a decree of abandonment against the shipments after consignees failed to file the entry within the prescribed period.
“The six containers of carrots arrived at the MICP on August 24, 2018 with no filed goods declaration for more than fifteen days from the date of discharge of the last package,” said Lapeña.
The abandoned shipments consigned to ASD Total Package Enterprises, Inc. were declared as fresh apples. Upon examination on October 10, MICP authorities found boxes of carrots covered by boxes of fresh apples with a total dutiable value of more than P1.97 million.
The decree of abandonment against ASD shipments was issued by the Office of the District Collector on October 8, 2018.
ASD violated Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation), Section1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2016.
Meanwhile, the shipment containing used clothes, shoes and toys which arrived at MICP on September 4, 2018 was consigned to Freccia Prime Marketing Co.
The goods declaration was filed on September 11, 2018, and subject to Alert Order No. A/MI/20180911-1149 issued on the same day.
“The consignee declared the shipment as to contain hangers and plastic racks. It was deemed abandoned since the consignee and their broker showed no interest in processing their alerted shipment,” Lapeña said.
Upon physical examination on October 11, the shipment was found to contain 500 boxes of used clothes, shoes and toys with dutiable value of P1.8 million.
Freccia Prime Marketing Co. violated Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) of the CMTA in relation to Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2016 and Republic Act 4653 Prohibiting the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles commonly known as Used Clothing and Rags.
The consignees are facing criminal charges and revocation of Customs accreditation for their attempt to defraud the Bureau of Customs.
The carrots and apples will be disposed of through condemnation, while the used clothes and shoes will be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
