P500 million ‘hot’ luxury cars found in showrooms

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) may confiscate around 300 allegedly smuggled luxury cars with an estimated market value of P500 million found in showrooms in Quezon City and Pampanga.

The BOC, in a statement issued yesterday, said a team led by Intelligence Officer 3 Alvin Enciso, who heads the Customs Intelligence and Investigation division, inspected showrooms in Xavierville, Quezon City and San Simon, Pampanga on Thursday after receiving reports that smuggled luxury cars were stored in these establishments.

Enciso was joined by operatives of the BOC-Manila International Container Port, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Coast Guard through the PCG’s Task Force Aduana.

During the inspection, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Ducati motorcycles and other “big bikes,” along with several bulletproof sport utility vehicles, customized sports cars, trucks and boats, among others, were reportedly not covered by appropriate import documents, the BOC said.

Enciso said no vehicles have been seized yet as the owners were given 15 days to present import documents.

He added that should the owners fail to submit the documents, the vehicles will be auctioned off to generate additional revenue for the government.

Asked how the vehicles were brought to the Philippines, Enciso said the NBI is still investigating the matter while the BOC will take an inventory to determine the exact number of allegedly smuggled vehicles and their prices.