‘Another one bites the dust’

On Apr 20, 2021

An officer from the Bureau of Customs’ Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), swears as to the veracity of the complaints filed against two more suspected smugglers and a customs broker before a prosecutor from the Department of Justice, April 16, 2021. Since January, the bureau had already filed 26 smuggling cases while monitoring the progress of 127 other cases it filed last year (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

A WAREHOUSE owner and an importer have joined the growing list of those hauled by the Bureau of Customs’ Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) before the Department of Justice for smuggling.

BATAS, in a statement, said indicted before the DOJ last April 16, 2021, were the registered owner of ‘Bianmintina Store and Storage’ in Pasay City for the alleged unlawful importation and sale of various assorted cigarettes amounting to more than P1.5 million last December 16, 2020.

The store owner purportedly violated Section 1401(d) in relation to Sections 224 and 1402, and 117 in relation to Section 1430, 1113 (f), (l) [1 & 5] of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act; Section II (e) of Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006; Sections 41 and 42 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN); and, Section 10 of National Tobacco Administration (NTA) 079-2005.

The second smuggling case is against ‘Hightower Incorporated’ and its customs broker for misdeclaration and unlawful importation of the alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of restricted fish products as round scad and mackerel valued at more than P2.6 million.

The smuggling attempt at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) occurred last November 22, 2020.

Under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Special Order No. 705, Series of 2020, importation of Round Scad, Bonito, Mackerel, and Moonfish for Processing and/or for Institutional Buyers are temporarily suspended.

Deputy Commissioner for revenue collection and monitoring (RCMG) Atty. Vener Baquiran, whose office supervises BATAS, said the two cases brought to 26 the total number thus far of smuggling cases they have filed for this year. ###