Importers, brokers face raps before DOJ

CEBU, Philippines — Importers and brokers who smuggled metals and cigarettes at the Port of Cebu and Port of Cagayan de Oro, respectively, amounting to P163.3 million are now facing charges.

The Bureau of Customs’ Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) recently filed criminal cases before the Department of Justice against VJEMM Commodities Export Import Inc., Sixtynine Enterprise and AMHA Export and Import.

BATAS, the legal arm of BOC, has filed smuggling charges against VJEMM Commodities Export Import Inc. and its customs broker for alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of ten 20-footer containers of steel tile wires, angle bars, and other metals last September 10, 2019 at the Port of Cebu.

The said items amount to P8.7 million including duties and taxes.

VJEMM Commodities Export Import Inc. and its customs broker were also charged for alleged violation of the Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

For allegedly smuggling P115.8 million worth of fake cigarettes on January 12, 2021 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, BATAS also filed charges against Sixtynine Enterprise and its customs broker for alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of cigarettes loaded in a three 40-footer containers.

AMHS Export and Import Trading also faces smuggling charges due to alleged unlawful importation of misdeclared cigarettes valued at P38.7 million last September 19, 2020 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.

Both AMHS Export and Import Trading and Sixtynine Enterprise together with its customs brokers are facing criminal complaints for the alleged violation of several pertinent provisions under the CMTA, Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006, TRAIN Law, various issuances of the National Tobacco Administration and the RPC.

Sixtynine Enterprise also allegedly violated the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines for importing fake cigarettes into the country.

“The Bureau of Customs, through its strengthened partnership with the DOJ, will further tighten its investigation efforts and impose stricter penalties to prevent the proliferation of smuggled goods and other contrabands in the country,” it said in a statement.

For being consistent in its support to the bureau’s anti-smuggling and anti-corruption initiatives, BOC is thanking DOJ as such support resulted in the filing of several criminal and administrative cases. — GMR (FREEMAN)