Customs to conduct hearing on seized vehicles

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs-Cebu has issued a notice of hearing for the consignee of the alleged smuggled nine Korean SUVs that were seized the other day.

BOC-Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said that the hearing is set on August 23, 2012 at 10:00 in the morning at the BOC office in Pier 6.

The hearing is aimed to get facts as to why the subject vehicles were able to sneak in Cebu without any documents and proof of registration. The authorities also hope to determine the real culprits for the filing of criminal charges.  

A “tipster” came to Silvetre and exposed this alleged activity which prompted Silvestre to ask for an approval of visitorial power to BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon for the team of Enforcement and Security Services and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to visit the site, where the smuggled vehicles were kept.

Biazon issued a mission order to the  joint investigation team, the ESS and CIIS agents. The “tipster”, according to a source who refused to be named, is  knowledgeable of the said illegal operation.

The nine vehicles were four units of Sorento, two units of Starex and one unit each of Tucson, Retona and Korando, which were already brought to the compound of BOC at Pier 6 from Sumada/Total Golden Motor Care in J.L. Briones St., North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

These motor vehicles reportedly came from Korea.

The shop where these vehicles were found is owned by Jung Choi Myung, a Korean national, who is also the name of permittee based on the Business Permit dated February 28, 2012 issued by Cebu City. - THE FREEMAN