The Bureau of Customs (BoC) confiscated smuggled goods approximately worth P28.92 million at the two major seaports in Manila.

Three shipments consigned to I-Genex Cargo Forwarder, 188 Fortune Merchandising and Hepomlan Trading, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port from Korea and China were seized.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said I-Genex Cargo Forwarder declared its shipment contained personal effects and household goods but it was found containing personal items mixed with boxes of beauty products such as hydrating creams, cleanser, mask and rose water which are all without the necessary Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) permit.

The 188 Fortune Merchandising and Hepomlan Trading also had wrong declaration in their shipments.

The two declared their shipments as containing kitchen wares and bolts and screws when the contents were in fact speakers, cookware, CCTV, beams, textiles, tiles, rubber pads, food without the proper FDA permit, and G-shock watches.

According to Lapeña, all three shipments from I-Genex Cargo Forwarder, 188 Fortune Merchandising and Hepomlan Trading had an estimated value of P13.25 million.

He said these shipments violated Section 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and possibly Republic Act 9283 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and RA 9711, also known as FDA Act of 2009).

A warrant of seizure and detention will be issued by District Collector Vener Baquiran while the accreditation of the importers will be revoked.

According to the BJOC, 16 containers consigned to Janeri Import Trading and Megaabundancesteel Indent Trading Corporation containing fake clothing apparels and galvalume steel coil were also confiscated.

The shipments, which arrived at the Port of Manila on separate dates, were declared to contain clothing apparels and hot-rolled steel coil.

A report from the port said there is misclassification in the tariff heading of the goods, resulting in an adjustment in the Customs value.

Upon verification, there is a 100 percent discrepancy in duty and tax declared against the computed duties of the Customs examiner.

Lapeña explained the hot-rolled steel coil is cheaper than cold rolled because it is manufactured without any delay in the process. While the galvalume costs higher since it has an aluminum and zinc coating.

Previously, the Megaabundacesteel was implicated in the 105 missing containers at the Port of Manila. A criminal case against the importer was filed at the Department of Justice by the Legal Service of the Bureau. These are their remaining shipments which arrived at the port after their accreditation was revoked.

Lapeña also explained under Section 1400 of the CMTA, a discrepancy in duty and tax to be paid between what is legally determined and what is declared amounting to more than 30 percent shall constitute a prima facie evidence of fraud.

The Office of the District Collector has already issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipments for violating Section 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of the CMTA.

District Collector Erastus Sandino said the estimated value of the shipments confiscated from Janeri Import Trading and Megaabundancesteel was more or less P15.67 million.

Lapeña is reminding the public that 100 percent inspection of alerted shipments will continue unless the importers will follow the rules and pay what is due to the government, as part of the government’s campaign against smuggling of fake products and contraband entering the country.

The commissioner has a standing order to revoke the accreditation of all erring importers and Customs brokers.