BOC foils third car smuggling attempt; P16 million vehicles seized

On Jun 10, 2021

Pricey catch. MICP-CIIS chief, Alvin Enciso, examines the 2016 Nissan GTR sports car, which was among the three luxury vehicles they seized at the port last June 9, 2021. The others are one 2021 model Toyota Land Cruiser and one 2020 model Chevrolet Camaro . Some of these vehicles ended up at the auction block last April 27, 2022 (photo courtesy of BOC-PIAD/stock photo)..

ALERT operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), interdicted another shipment of 3 luxury vehicles worth P16 million from Dubai last Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

MICP CIIS chief, Alvin Enciso, in a report to Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Raniel Ramiro, Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero and port collector Romeo Rosales, identified the consignee as ‘ADNFINEST Marketing Corporation.’

Enciso said the consignee tried to conceal the vehicles with a shipment of 98 used tires.

After getting an alert order, Enciso said they immediately conducted a 100 percent examination of the 40-footer container (BEAU4842811) where they discovered one 2021 model Toyota Land Cruiser (white), one second hand 2016 model Nissan GTR (red) and one second hand 2020 model Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 coupe (black).

Enciso said they got suspicious as the bill of lading for the shipment merely described the contents as “3 units.”

The shipment has been laying dormant at the port since its arrival last May 27, 2021, as no customs entry declaration has been filed up to the time it was inspected last Wednesday, Enciso added.

The seizure was already the third time that smuggled vehicles were apprehended in less than a month at the MICP, Enciso noted further.

Last May 26, the CIIS also apprehended a Porsche Boxter, 2 units of Toyota MR-S sports car and one Mercedes Benz SLK sports car valued at P10 million consigned to ‘JLFDM Consumer Trading.’

Declared as “used auto parts from Japan,” the consignee tried to conceal the vehicles by covering them with 33 bales of used clothing.

On June 2, the CIIS again apprehended JLFDM Trading for trying to bring in 3 more luxury vehicles worth P20 million also hidden in a shipment of 40 bales of used clothing and declared as “used truck parts from Japan.”

The vehicles consist of one Ferrari F430 Scuderia, one Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG and one Mercedes Benz E220.

Enciso added the seizures were part of the CIIS’ “Coplan Tsekot” that aims to prevent the MICP from being used as entry point for vehicle smuggling into the country.

Last Wednesday’s accomplishment has thus far resulted to the seizure of 10 luxury vehicles with an aggregate value of more than P36 million under Coplan Tsekot.