Importers, broker face raps over P49 million ‘illegal’ shipments

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed charges against two importers and a customs broker for allegedly misdeclaring a shipment and for illegally importing minerals, cigarettes and exhaust fans.

The criminal charges were filed against importers GJ & M Global Resources and Atlantic Globe Movers, Inc., and a Cebu-based broker before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on May 7.

GJ & M and its customs broker, the BOC's Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) said in the complaint, violated pertinent provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.

The broker misdeclared two 40-footer containers of minerals and exhaust fans amounting to P1.77 million. The containers, which arrived at the Port of Cebu on January 7, 2021, were consigned to GJ & M.

BOC-Cebu district collector Atty. Charlito Martin Mendoza said the shipment was declared to contain flexographic reel to reel printing line, but 200 bags of calcium carbonate “masterbatch” and 15 exhaust fans were found instead.

He said the shipment came from Taiwan.

BOC also filed a complaint against Atlantic Globe Movers, Inc. over unlawful importation of 930 master cases of Fortune Blue cigarettes worth P47.498 million. The shipment arrived at the Manila International Container Port on February 18, 2021.

The importer allegedly violated the CMTA, Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006, Republic Act 10963, otherwise known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, National Tobacco Administration (NTA) 079-2005, NTA Memorandum Circular No. 03, s. 2004, and the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

BOC said it remains committed in investigating and filing criminal cases against stakeholders involved in the illegal importation of goods.

The BOC filed before the DOJ a total of 32 criminal cases against individuals or entities violating certain provisions of CTMA laws since the start of this year.  — KQD (FREEMAN)