Guns, rice, sugar, big bike, bags: BOC seizes P116M “smuggled” goods

CEBU, Philippines - Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon led the confiscation of P116 million worth of suspected smuggled goods yesterday.

The amount included the estimated P100 million worth of suspected fake signature bags, wallets, among others.

The seizure also included P10 million worth of rice, P5 million worth of sugar, P200,000 worth of guns and ammunitions, and P800,000 worth big bike.

“The seizure of these goods is a proof that we are not tolerating smuggling and it must serve as a warning to unscrupulous importers to refrain from violating the law,” said Cebu district collector Edward dela Cuesta.

Counterfeit bags

Customs officials seized the estimated P100 million worth of suspected counterfeit bags, wallets, hairclips and sunglasses from a retail store in Lapu-Lapu City.

BOC-sub port of Mactan collector Paul Alcazaren said the store was under surveillance on suspicion that it is selling fake signature brands.

Lim and Biazon said the store will be temporarily closed while an inventory is going on.

Biazon explained that those goods will be destroyed if they are proven to be counterfeit.

“This is our way of supporting the implementation of Intellectual Property Rights being enforced around the world. Kapag counterfeit, hindi pwedeng i-auction kasi our main aim is for these products not to be sold in the market,” Biazon said.

But Biazon said that if those items are proven to be genuine, they will be sold in a public auction.

Representatives from different signature brands will be invited to determine whether the products are original.

Rice shipment

Biazon, Dela Cuesta and BOC deputy commissioner Danilo also led the opening of 20 container vans with P10 million worth of rice shipment from Taiwan.

Dela Cuesta said the shipment was put on hold since last week on suspicion of being smuggled, in violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).

Based on the cargo manifest, the container vans were declared to contain insulator slab.

“Before the alert order was issued, makabantay na tayo dito. Kaya nilagay muna natin sa holding area since last week,” said Dela Cuesta.

A forfeiture proceeding awaits the shipment in favor of the government, which will then sell it on public auction.

During the opening of the vans, it was found out that the shipment was loaded in sacks with marking “Senandomeng,” a local brand of rice.

It was believed that the owner of the shipment shipped thousands of sacks to Taiwan to be filled with the smuggled rice to make it appear as a local shipment.

Refined sugar

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service in Cebu chief  Koko Holganza put on alert since November 3, 2012 four container vans containing refined sugar.

CIIS-Cebu filed for an abandonment proceeding against the shipment after no claimants appeared since November until February this year.

On February 5, a warrant of seizure and detention was issued by BOC-Port of Cebu deputy collector for administration Ahmed Cuizon against the shipment.

When the shipment was opened yesterday, it was found out that it contained refined sugar.

Big bike

Unscrupulous people continue to use Philippine Economic Zone Authority-based companies as consignees of smuggled goods, said Biazon, who vowed that PEZA-bound shipments will be subjected to more stringent scrutiny.

A P800,000 worth of secondhand 1,000 cc big bike was seized yesterday after it was declared as machineries and parts.   The bike, with brand name Raptor Cagiva, arrived last Friday from Australia.

Based on the cargo manifest, Alcazaren said the shipment was consigned to a PEZA-based company.  The company however denied owning the shipment.

“This is not the first time that PEZA-based companies are used as a cover for some individuals to engage in smuggling. PEZA-bound shipments will now be fully scrutinized,” Biazon added.

Biazon recalled that last January, seven container vans with an estimated P7million worth of refined sugar arrived in the country through two companies registered with the Mactan Economic Processing Zone Authority.

Guns, ammunition

Last week, the BOC-Enforcement and Security Services headed by district commander Camilo Cascolan Jr., apprehended an estimated P200,000 worth of guns and ammunition.

The seized items include a Jennings firearms caliber .22, a rifle, a Star Ruger 357 magnum revolver, a Star 9mm caliber pistol and several assorted ammunition.

They were declared as personal effects that arrived from the United States and Australia on board M/V Titan.  Biazon and Dela Cuesta said that those who were involved in these illegal activities, including the brokers who facilitated the transactions, will face charges. — /LPM (FREEMAN)