• The Bureau of Customs inspected 44 smuggled luxury vehicles valued at approximately P900 million from a warehouse in Taguig City on February 19
• A total of 44 units of luxury cars, including Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and McLaren, were discovered during the operation
• Authorities are working with the Land Transportation Office, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to verify possible links to criminal syndicates and assess if the proper duties and taxes were paid
• If found non-compliant, those responsible will be charged with violations of Sections 1400 and 1401 in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) inspected a warehouse in Taguig that yielded 44 smuggled luxury vehicles valued at approximately P900 million during an operation conducted on February 19, 2025.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio praised the success of this operation, which adds to a series of recent enforcement actions targeting the illegal importation of high-end vehicles.
The operation was conducted through the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP).
The Taguig warehouse contained a mix of ultra-high-end and mid-tier luxury car brands, including Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and McLaren, according to BOC. “We seem to have a market for these, so some of these businesses and groups have realized the opportunity to profit from the interest these cars generate,” CIIS Director Verne Enciso said in a statement.
CIIS-MICP Chief Alvin Enciso noted the operation marks the third major one in Metro Manila, following similar raids in Parañaque, Pasay, and Makati targeting auto dealerships selling smuggled luxury vehicles.
The BOC is currently working with the Land Transportation Office, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to verify the origins of the vehicles and investigate whether they are linked to organized syndicates and verify if duties and taxes were properly paid.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy warned that violators will be prosecuted under Sections 1400 and 1401 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The BOC has given 15 days for owners, lessees, and other responsible parties to submit official documentation proving that duties and taxes were properly paid.
A final inventory will be conducted to confirm the exact year models and other specifications of the seized vehicles. The process will be overseen by customs examiners, law enforcement officials, barangay representatives, and the warehouse owner.
The BOC reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying anti-smuggling efforts, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign to curb illicit trade.
