BOC impounded vehicles reached P2.6 billion!

On Feb 22, 2025

MICP-CIIS chief. Alvin Enciso, pointing to another high-end car, a Ferrari, they found stored at a warehouse in Taguig City, February 19, 2025. The BOC team found some 44 luxury vehicles with an aggregate value at over P900 million. These vehicles are believed being used by the top bosses of the 'POGOs,' many of them Chinese., before the government completely banned POGOs effective at the end of 2024 (photo credit: CIIS).

TWO more raids by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in warehouses in the cities of Makati and Taguig resulted to the impoundment of more luxury and high-end vehicles that brought their value to over P2.6 billion.

Alvin Enciso, head of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Manila International Port (MICP), said their inspection of a “motor service center” in Makati last February 14, resulted to the discovery of 16 vehicles and one high-end motorcycle valued at around P366 million.

Yet another raid, this time at a warehouse in Taguig on February 19, further resulted to the discovery of 44 more luxury vehicles valued at over P900 million.

CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the cars were found inside the ‘Auto Vault Speed Shop’ at Levi Mariano Ave., Brgy. Ususan, Taguig City.

Enciso disclosed that the team found two units of Ferrari 488, two units of Mercedes Benz C Class, and one unit each of the following: McLaren 720S, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Maserati Levante, Lamborghini Huracan, BMW M3, Dodge RAM, Ferrari 488, Ford Everest, Ford Mustang, GMC Yukon Denali, Honda Civic SIR, Honda S2000, BMW M2, Land Rover, Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography, Lexus LBX, Lexus LX570, BMW I4, Mazda Miata, Audi A1, Mercedes Benz AMG SLK, Mercedes Benz G Wagon Brabus, Mercedes Benz G63, Mercedes Benz GLE450, Mitsubishi Lancer, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Porsche 997 Carrera, Porsche 993 Turbo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Cayman, Porsche GT3, Porsche GT3 RS, Porsche GT3 Touring, Porsche Turbo, Toyota Seqouia, Toyota Corolla, Cross, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Toyota Land Cruiser VX.R.

Previously, last February 13, Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, assisted by Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Juvymax Uy and Enciso, personally inspected two warehouses in Pasay City and Parañaque City where high-end luxury vehicles and SUVs were found stored and their value placed at more than P1.2 billion.

Together with the subsequent raids that followed, the government has thus far impounded more than P2.6 billion worth of imported luxury vehicles, the biggest thus far under any administration.

Most, if not all, of these vehicles are believed being used by the Chinese “bosses” of the POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), which has been shut down by the government effective at the end of 2024.

Commissioner Rubio, however, stressed that the owners of the vehicles would have 15 days to present proof that they bought the vehicles legally.

Another option is for the owners to avail of the BOC’s ‘voluntary payment scheme’ (see related article) in order to avoid their being seized and forfeited in favor of the government.