BOC condemns P285 million smuggled goods

IN COMPLIANCE with the standing order of Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, smuggled goods with a combined value of more than P285 million were condemned and destroyed last week at the Port of Subic and at the Manila International Container Port.

POS district collector, Atty. Marites Martin, in a report to Guerrero, said a total of 5,810 master cases of smuggled cigarettes loaded on 6X40 container vans and vegetables loaded on 3X40 container vans were brought to a rendering facility in Porac, Pampanga for condemnation and destruction on October 30, 2020.

Martin placed the total value of the destroyed products at P215 million.

“The Port of Subic shall remain dedicated in supporting Comm. Guerrero’s program to intensify border protection and transparency to the public,” Martin said in a brief statement released to the media.

The official added the condemnation was supervised by Deputy Collector for Assessment and Chief, Auction and Cargo Disposal Division (ACDD), Ms. Maita S. Acevedo, together with the Port’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS).

Also witnessing the process is Atty. Reynaldo N. Yacat, ACDMD-POS-AOCG together with the representatives from PMFTC, JTI, PDEA and Bureau of Plant Industry.

At the MICP, district collector, Romeo Allan Rosales, also reported to Guerrero that P70 million worth of smuggled cigarettes loaded on 2X40 container vans were also destroyed in the same facility two days earlier.

Rosales also reported that another batch of smuggled cigarettes, worth P60 million, were also seized last week at the Port.

Rosales identified the erring consignee as, ‘Ocean World Enterprises,’ which declared the shipment as consisting of “furniture and bags” from China.

On actual inspection, the shipment was found to consist of 500 master cases consisting of 1,198 boxes of illicit cigarettes.

Rosales, in a statement, added he has ordered the thorough inspection of the consignee’s 11 other shipments.

“Other shipments of the importer are now subject for further investigation to ascertain if they are also in violation of Customs laws, rules and regulations,” Rosales said.

Aside from this, Rosales also said he has ordered the immediate seizure of a shipment of second-hand luxury vehicles which arrived at the Port last October 16, 2020 consigned to ‘Blue Core Enterprises.’

The shipment, also declared as “furniture,” yielded a ‘Porsche Sportscar,’ ‘Bentley Luxury Car,’ ‘Mercedes Benz Sportscar’ and, a half-cut ‘Volkswagen,’ all with an estimated value of P20 million.

He added the consignee is “now under investigation” for smuggling.