BOC confiscates P8M worth of assorted goods

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs confiscated P8 million worth of brand-new Yamaha 1500cc motorcycles, chemicals and plumbing supplies that illegally entered the country.

Consigned to Motozentrum Philippines, the 48 intercepted motorcycles were declared as being in “knocked-down condition” or totally disassembled and had been shipped from Thailand.

The importer declared the shipment’s value at $10,197.88 (P450,644.32) or about $212.46 each motorcycle.

The BOC undertook an examination of the motorcycles following an alert order on the shipment by the Bureau’s Enforcement Group in January 2014. The investigation showed that the motorcycles were already in “completely built-up” condition, with only the front wheel left to be attached, contrary to what the consignee had declared.

Aside from this, Motozentrum was found to have erroneously declared that the shipment came from Thailand when the Invoice, Packing List and Bill of Lading from the vessel clearly indicate that the ship came from Calcutta, India.

A check on the shipment’s declared value showed that the suggested selling price for the Yamaha YZR R15 150cc motorcycle in India is US$1,812.00 (P80,072.28), a discrepancy of about 85 percent compared to the declared value per unit of $212.46 (P9,388.61).

Under Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, any discrepancy between what was declared and what was found that exceeds 30 percent is gross undervaluation, which constitutes prima facie fraud.

The Bureau also seized two 20-foot container vans of what was declared as “Phthalic Anhydride,” but was found to actually contain “lead bromate pigment,” for gross undervaluation and violation of RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Act of 1990), which regulates the importation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, transport, treatment and disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes in the country.

The shipment, consigned to Frebel Enterprises, arrived in the country in March 2014. Lead bromate, used in making certain types of glass, is a poisonous chemical and may detonate or explode on heating, striking or rubbing when combined with other substances.

The BOC likewise seized one 40-foot container van imported by Unipipe Phils., Inc., filled with pipes, fittings and valves that had also been grossly undervalued. The shipment arrived at the Port of Manila in January 2014.