P1.9-B fake goods, dried tobacco seized in Bulacan
The Bureau of Customs confiscated P1.944-billion dried tobacco and counterfeit goods in raided Bulacan warehouses on Friday, November 8. Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Customs.
MANILA, Philippines — A total of P1.944 billion worth of counterfeit goods and dried tobacco were intercepted in warehouses across Bulacan, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Sunday.
According to the BOC, a three-day operation took place in Guiguinto, Bulacan from November 6 to 8.
During the first warehouse inspection on Wednesday, November 6, officials seized P1.25-billion smuggled goods, including used clothing, shoes, and other counterfeit merchandise items.
On Friday, the BOC found sacks of dried tobacco and cigarette filter rods in another warehouse, enough to produce 6,944 master cases of cigarettes valued at P694.4 million.
BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said warehouse owners and operators have 15 days from the letter of authority’s issuance to present documents proving the legitimacy of the imported goods and that appropriate duties and taxes were paid.
Article continues after this advertisement“Failure to present the proper documents will lead to charges for violating Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” Uy’s statement on Sunday read.
Article continues after this advertisementUy also said erring parties would face charges under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
“The BOC will also be filing cases against the owners of the smuggled dried tobacco products in implementation of the newly signed Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” he added.
The BOC has padlocked the raided warehouses, with inventories of the goods to be scheduled and conducted by designated BOC examiners.
READ: BOC confiscates P111-M worth of shabu inside an airport warehouse
