P17.5-M smuggled goods seized in Manila port

FILE: Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (Photo: Commissioner Isidro Lapena/Facebook)

MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized various items, including fake watches and two heavy equipment, worth PHP17.5 million at the Port of Manila (POM).

Commissioner Isidro Lapeña headed the inspection of four shipments containing such items as fake G-shock watches, shoes, rice, used clothing, two heavy equipment, and other general merchandise on Tuesday.

He said that all shipments, which came from China, had violated various provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Customs agents uncovered counterfeit Casio G-shock watches and fake shoes in the shipment of Alcambaras Trading Corp. with office address at 6-B Matimyas House, 1688 MH del Pilar St., Malate, Manila.

Declared as handicraft paper decoration, the shipment was processed by customs broker Manolet Camaclang.

Two misdeclared heavy equipment were seized by the bureau after X-ray produced an image different from the declared machinery parts and accessories of Pricewater Trading with office address at 3F RJV Building National Highway, Biñan, Laguna. The shipment was processed by Samson Rivas Gabisan.

A shipment consigned to ACC Trading with office address at 1600 Juan Luna corner Tello St., Tondo, Manila was declared as resin but found to contain two pallets of rice, and large picture frames. Rolando Quingquing Marfil was the customs broker.
Another shipment consigned to Melwinjay Trading with office address at Rm. 418C, First United Bldg., Escolta St., Binondo, Manila was seized after mixing used clothing with declared bed linens. The customs broker was identified as Samuel Perez.
“Melwinjay’s and Pricewater’s misdeclaration was found out during an X-ray examination while an alert order was issued by the District Collector on ACC and Alcambaras,” Lapeña said in a statement.
He added that the consignees violated Section 1400 of the CMTA, Intellectual Property Law, and RA 4653 which prohibits the import of used clothing.

On the other hand, POM Collector lawyer Ernelito Aquino said an investigation of the Law Division would follow after the seizure of the misdeclared goods.