Various items worth P8.8 million smuggled into the Philippines from China were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Manila on August 26, 2020.
The shipment, which arrived at Manila South Harbor on June 20, was consigned to Asianic Galaxy Dry Goods Trading and declared to contain luggage trolleys and toothpaste holders.
BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, however, received information that the shipment actually contained undeclared commodities such as gas stoves, prompting the issuance of an alert order against the shipment on July 7.
When inspected, the shipment revealed undeclared items such as hairdryers, sushi makers, high-end kitchen cooking machines, portable stoves, remote control lamps, foldable shopping carts, and e-trikes.
A warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the entire shipment for violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification and Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
BOC assistant commissioner and spokesperson Atty. Vincent Philip Maronilla reminded importers to properly declare all imported items contained in any shipment, not just one or two, to avoid paying higher duties and taxes.
