The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on February 28 raided a storage facility in Binondo, Manila, containing various counterfeit branded bags, shoes, and other products.
A composite team composed of personnel from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Task Force Aduana of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) implemented the Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio after receiving derogatory information about the warehouse located in Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila.
Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy of the BOC Intelligence Group said it is through the strong leadership of the BOC Commissioner that such an operation is possible.
“Our good commissioner has taken it upon himself to lead the agency into a new chapter where our personnel is empowered to fulfill our mandate every day. His leadership allows us to get to the bottom of these illegal activities,” he said.
The team inspected the warehouse and found assorted imported clothing apparel, shoes, general merchandise, kitchenwares, electronics, and beauty products bearing infringed trademarks, such as Nike, Coach, Adidas, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, among others.
After finding the items, the team temporarily padlocked and sealed the warehouse.
Customs authorities will require the owners to present importation documents or proof of payment. If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
“We continuously enhance our intelligence and enforcement measures to protect our economy against these illegally imported goods that also pose health and safety hazards to local consumers,” says Commissioner Rubio.
“The recent multiple seizures we had successfully conducted manifest our strengthened anti-smuggling campaign and unwavering dedication of the men and women of the BOC to curb smuggling and other forms of Customs fraud,” he emphasized.#
