In line with its commitment to rigorously enforce customs laws and regulations, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized significant volume of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infringing goods, discovered in storage units in Pasay City last October 2024.

This successful operation resulted from a joint inspection led by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Intellectual Property Rights Division (CIIS-IPRD) and the Port of Manila (POM) CIIS, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The inspection identified the products as counterfeit, thereby confirming violations of Republic Act No. 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or CMTA) and Republic Act No. 8293, also known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The goods were found to bear markings of several luxury sneaker brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Converse, Crocs, Jordan, Onitsuka Tiger, Vans, Havaianas, Birkenstock, Anello, Lacoste, and Disney.

On December 4, 2024, POM District Collector Alexander Gerard E. Alviar issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the subject goods. The goods were found to have probable cause for breaching intellectual property rights and Sections 224 and 1113 of the CMTA.

Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio emphasized the Bureau of Customs’ commitment to national security and trade integrity. He stated, “This operation demonstrates our continuous efforts to enforce customs regulations and protect the intellectual property rights of legitimate brands and businesses. Our dedication will not falter; we will persist in implementing strict measures to ensure that only authentic and compliant products are available in our markets.”

In its commitment to upholding the law and safeguarding the interests of the Filipino populace, the BOC will steadfastly pursue the initiation of criminal charges against individuals implicated in the smuggling of counterfeit goods in accordance with the Republic Act No. 10863, known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as well as the Republic Act No. 8293, which is also referred to as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.