P12-million worth of mixed used clothing, popularly known as “ukay-ukay”, were seized by the Bureau of Customs today.

The shipments, falsely declared as CLOTHING ACCESSORIES, came from Hong Kong and India.

Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez said this latest in a series of confiscations being carried out by the Bureau of Customs was part of his no-nonsense campaign to make smuggling unprofitable.

Alvarez said the importation of used clothing is prohibited under Republic Act 4653, otherwise known as “An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring It a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags.”

“Penalties for violation,” added Alvarez, “ranged from confiscation of the contraband, fine of not less than P200 nor more than P20,000 to imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than five years.”

The customs chief also warned that aliens found guilty of violating RA 4653 would be immediately deported without need for any further proceedings on the part of any Deportation Board.

Customs Enforcement and Security Service Chief Jose Yuchongco said the ukay-ukay shipment from Hong Kong which came in two 40-foot containers was consigned to Vanguard Logistics Services while that from India was consigned to Gateway Container Line.

Yuchongco said Customs operatives were still in the process of determining whether the consignees were bogus or not.