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The Bureau of Customs filed in 2021 a total of 103 criminal cases against 309 importers and customs brokers for allegedly violating customs rules
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A total of 63 administrative cases were also filed against customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission in 2021
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The cases involved, among others, the unlawful importation of cigarettes, agricultural products, general merchandise, medicines, motor vehicles and other commodities
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Criminal cases were also filed against erring individuals over the unlawful removal and disarming of electronic customs seals
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed in 2021 a total of 103 criminal cases against 309 importers and customs brokers for allegedly violating customs laws, rules, and regulations.
A total of 63 administrative cases were also filed against customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission in 2021 for alleged violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and other pertinent laws, BOC said in a statement.
Data from the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers showed that the cases involved, among others, the unlawful importation of cigarettes valued at P897.1 million; agricultural products valued at P293.9 million; general merchandise amounting to P253.2 million; medicines valued at P57.1 million; motor vehicles valued at P49.1 million; and other commodities valued at P63.1 million.
Further, criminal cases were filed against erring individuals over the unlawful removal and disarming of electronic customs seals (ECS).
The ECS is required when transferring cargoes covered by BOC’s Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo System, a web-based system developed to track the inland movement of containerized cargoes during transit and transfer to other customs territories and facilities.
