MANILA, Philippines — Government agents recently confiscated at least P316 million worth of smuggled frozen meat and counterfeit items during separate raids in Navotas and Pasay City.
Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero authorized members of the BOC Intelligence and Investigation Service assigned at the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port to conduct the operations.
BOC personnel raided a storage facility in Navotas where they seized frozen meat, Peking duck and black duck amounting to P16 million.
Another team inspected storage facilities in Pasay and confiscated fake branded clothes valued at P300 million.
The BOC is still conducting an inventory of the seized goods.
Charges of violation of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and intellectual property law will be filed against the importers of the smuggled items, Guerrero said.
He said the BOC would continue to run after smugglers to protect legitimate business owners who are paying duties and taxes.