The Bureau of Customs (BOC) scored another hit in its campaign against technical smuggling when it seized and confiscated ten (10) 20-footer container vans of angle bars with total value of P7 million.
The shipments which arrived at the Port of Manila (POM) on board M/V Yong Yue from China were declared to contain 27 bundles and 109 packages of hardware items (steel bars). The ten container vans are covered by Entry Nos. C57102-10, C57129-10 and C15516.
Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-POM Officer-In-Charge Johnny Martinez received derogatory information as confirmed by the Steel Angles, Shapes, and Sections Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (SASSMAPI) letter that its consignee has failed to secure the necessary import commodity clearance as mandated by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) giving rise to suspicion that the shipment was of substandard quality.
Further, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) ICE Report for the shipment was found to be spurious as the ICE signatory was not an authorized signatory by the PCCI.
The CIIS immediately recommended the issuance of Warrant of Seizure and Detention against its consignee, NML Merchandise in violation of 2503, section 2530 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended.
Upon conducting 100% examination, the container vans were found to contain angle bars with width of less than 80mm. The shipment is subject to payment of Special Safeguard duty.
Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, who led the on-the-spot inspection of the shipments at the Port of Manila Warehouse 2, immediately ordered the seizure of said illegal shipments. Its duties and taxes are estimated to be worth P2.1million.
“The confiscation of the illegal shipments by the bureau would serve as a lesson to some importers who resort to misdeclaration and undervaluation to avoid payment of correct duties and taxes,” Alvarez said.
Commissioner Alvarez has ordered all Customs offices to remain unrelenting and doubly on guard against all forms of smuggling.
Alvarez commended BOC Intelligence Division Chief Dino Tuazon and CIIS apprehending officers led by Johnny Martinez, Leonito Santiago, Eelco Escueta, Edgar Alpano, Alberto Flores, Roberto Francisco, Ricardo Castro, Sambitore Lucman II and Enrico Agno for the vigilance of the group.
