House leader cites BOC’s non-stop campaign against smuggling

P550 million worth of suspected smuggled vegetables, vehicles, seized

On Oct 25, 2021

ACT-CIS Partylist representative and House Appropriations Committee chairman, Rep. Eric Go Yap.

THE unrelenting campaign by the Bureau of Customs against smuggling, especially of agricultural products and motor vehicles, has earned praises from a ranking leader of the House of Representatives as it protects domestic producers from unfair competition.

House Appropriations Committee chair and ACT-CIS representative, Eric Go Yap, in a statement, said the timely operations conducted by the BOC in Metro Manila and the Port of Subic last October 13, 2021 where smuggled vegetables and other agricultural goods with a combined value of P50 million were seized prevented their flooding the local market at the expense of local farmers and growers.

“These smuggled vegetables could have flooded the local market by now,” said Yap, who is also the caretaker representative of Benguet province, one of the country’s leading producers of agricultural products.

“At the end of the day, our farmers are the ones who suffer the most from this smuggling issue. They should have not to compete with these smuggled vegetables as their produce should be our priority in terms of distribution and consumption,” the solon added.

A K-9 dog sniffing for possible illegal drugs at some of the smuggled vegetables apprehended at the Port of Subic. District collector Maritess Martin later reported the value of the confiscated fresh agricultural products last October 13, 2021, at P15 million (photo: BOC-PIAD).

In a separate press statement last October 16, 2021, the raid spearheaded by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) last October 13, 2021 on several warehouses in Tondo and Navotas resulted to the discovery of possible misdeclared, misclassified, and undervalued imported commodities which include yellow onions, gingers, red onions, tapioca, flour, sugar, stanchion, cosmetics, and cigarettes (Marlboro, Winston, Mighty, and Winnsboro). The goods have an estimated value of Php 35 million.

In Navotas, two storage facilities with a total of 31 cold storage room resulted to the discovery of alleged smuggled frozen meat, such as, beef heads, chicken legs, chicken livers as well as various fruit products.

Customs agents further reported to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero of their discovery of “expired” meat and fish products subject of hold orders from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

On the same day at the Subic Bay Free Port, district collector Maritess Martin informed Guerrero the apprehension of P15 million worth of assorted fresh vegetable products from China loaded on 5X40-footer container vans.

“We are grateful with the BOC, which has consistently stepped up its surveillance operations to secure the country’s national borders and protect government revenue,” Yap said.

“We appreciate that they heeded our appeal for them to intensify their operations so we can protect our local farmers,” he added.

P500 million luxury vehicles

Continuing, Yap also said: “We also laud the BOC for their heightened efforts in the seizure of other smuggled items, particularly cars. The local car industry, including the legitimate car dealers, remain at the losing end when smuggled cars enter the country without proper documentation and payment of taxes.

MICP-CIIS chief, Alvin Enciso, inspecting two of the luxury vehicles (Ferrari) found at a showroom in Quezon City during an authorized inspection last October 21, 2021. Suspected smuggled vehicles worth P500 million were found by the team, to include those found at another showroom in Pampanga province (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

“We are confident that under the leadership of Commissioner Guerrero, the BOC can sustain these intensified operations so as to protect our local economy,”

The lawmaker was referring to another BOC operation at a car showroom at Xavierville, a posh location in Quezon City and at another showroom in San Simon Pampanga last October 21, 2021.

The operation, which was approved by Guerrero thru an ‘LOA’ (letter of authority) was headed by Manila International Container Port (MICP) intelligence chief, Alvin Enciso.

Enciso later reported to Guerrero that they discovered luxury vehicles in the two locations valued at more than P500 million.

Guerrero authorized the operation based on “intelligence report” that suspected smuggled vehicles are being openly displayed in these showrooms.

Among the vehicles found were Lamborghini and Ferrari, and motorcycles or big bikes such as Ducati.

Also found were several bulletproof sports utility vehicles, customized sports cars, trucks, boats, among others.

“All motor vehicles found were without appropriate importation documents,” Enciso reported further.

Based on customs laws, the showroom owners would have 15 days to present proof of legal importations of the vehicles less they be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings.