BOC seizes P175 million smuggled goods in one day

On Mar 16, 2022

MICP-CIIS chief, Alvin Enciso (right) is shown inspecting some of the smuggled onions they found at a warehouse in Valenzuela City, March 11, 2022. With Enciso is a colleague from the National Bureau of Investigation (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to demonstrate it is focused on its anti-smuggling mandate undistracted by the political noise, conducting 3 separate operations last March 11, 2022 in Valenzuela, Taytay and Binondo, resulting to the discovery of suspected smuggled goods worth more than P175 million.

Manila International Container Port (MICP) intelligence chief, Alvin Enciso, said that armed with the ‘LOA’ (letter of authority) signed by Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero and assisted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) they visited several warehouses in Punturin, Valenzuela City where they discovered several tons of red and yellow onions, mung beans. garlic and other agricultural goods worth some P15 million.

In another operation in Taytay, Rizal, Enciso said they also uncovered suspected smuggled shipments of frozen chicken, beef, pork, sausages, butter, and other foodstuffs estimated to be worth P50 million.

As part of their protocol, Enciso said the visited facilities were temporarily placed under customs guard and seal to secure the imported products stored inside while waiting for the presentation of the proof of payment of duties and taxes and other pertinent documents.

A customs examiner shall also be tasked to conduct proper inventory of the items in the presence of witnesses, he added.

A member of the POM-CIIS walks past the bundles of fake goods they found inside a warehouse in Binondo, Manila, March 11, 2022. The goods were valued at more than P110 million (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

In Binondo, Manila, a separate operation on the same day by the Port of Manila (POM) intelligence office (POM-CIIS) and other units from the Intelligence Group (IG) under Deputy Commissioner Ranier Ramiro, resulted to the discovery of fake consumer goods worth more than P110 million.

Armed with another LOA from Guerrero, the implementing team composed of personnel from the CIIS-IPRD, BOC-POM, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) inspected the warehouse located at One Soler, Binondo, Manila.

The initial inventory of goods, conducted by BOC examiners and witnessed by CIIS and AFP, led to the discovery of numerous items bearing the trademarks: Hermes, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Marvel, Disney, Hot Wheels, Hello Kitty, Cars, Spiderman, Toy Story, Iron Man, to name a few.

Ramiro said he has ordered a deeper investigation of those involved in the questioned shipments to strengthen the cases the BOC intends to file before the Department of Justice (Paul M. Gutierrez).