BOC IMPOUNDS LUXURY VEHICLES PRICED AT P1.4 BILLION

Traders told: Produce documents in 15 days or else

On Feb 15, 2025

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, peering inside one of the luxury vehicles the agency impounded after an operation in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque on Thursday, February 13. The value of the impounded vehicles was estimated at over P1.4 billion (photo: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio scored its biggest accomplishment this early after impounding an assortment of luxury and pricey vehicles with an aggregate value estimated to exceed P1.4 billion.

“This operation signals a new approach in the BOC’s operational strategies in going after smugglers and ensuring collection of rightful revenues due the government.

“It sends a message to all importers who think they are already safe after their products have entered Philippine territory thru illegal forms and means.

“We want them to know that we have eyes everywhere. We are not stopping, and we are not slowing down. We are always one step ahead of them,” the customs chief said.

Comm. Rubio was referencing the operation conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), the operational arm of the Intelligence Group (IG) at two warehouses in Pasay City and Parañaque City last February 13.

CIIS director, Verne Enciso, said their attention was first drawn to series of postings in social media showing photos of an assortment of luxury vehicles being sold online.

This prompted the BOC to launch the operation to determine if the vehicles were brought into the country legally, with the operation being personally supervised by the customs chief and

Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy.

“When we received the tip about these vehicles early this month, we immediately verified the information and processed the issuance of the appropriate orders to conduct the operation,” Enciso said.

Enciso identified the suspect trading companies as ‘AC Che Gong Miao’ based in Pasay City and the ‘TopCar Specialist and Trading Corporation in Parañaque City.

Found in their premises are row of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maybach, and Maserati, among others.

Enciso confirmed the luxury vehicles were found in these locations when their team arrived to serve the ‘LOAs’ (Letters of Authority) signed by Comm. Rubio to the representatives of AC Che and TopCar.

At the AC Che Gong warehouse, Enciso said Ferrari LaFerrari, Lamborghini McLaren, Maserati, Rolls Royce, Mercedez Benz, Maybach, Range Rover, Bentley, Alphard, and Jeep Wrangler were found.

At the TopCar Specialist warehouse, the team found Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Ferrari SF90 Stradale and Mansory, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Maybach, and BMW.

Comm. Rubio said the owners, lessees, lessors, occupants, representatives, or any parties responsible for the warehouses have only 15 days from the receipt of the LOAs to submit the necessary documents proving that duties and taxes were paid correctly.

If found without proper documents, they will face charges in violation of Sections 1400, 1401 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The vehicles would also be forfeited in favor of the government.

Comm. Rubio said they remain vigilant against any, and all types, of smuggling activities in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign.