Undeclared vehicle parts seized at MICP
The BoC said that those involved in the smuggling operation will face the full extent of the law.
Daily TribuneThe BoC said that those involved in the smuggling operation will face the full extent of the law.
An officer from the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service inspects the cargo container full of car parts which was intercepted at the Manila International Container Port. Reports said that the car parts were imported from the United States.
Photograph courtesy of BOC
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has seized various vehicle parts and 12 second-hand vehicles valued at an estimated P10.8 million from two containers shipped from the United States to the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
In a statement, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services director Verne Enciso disclosed that the shipments were subjected to X-ray imaging at the MICP after authorities received information they contained “misdeclared and undeclared items.”
While declared as auto parts and accessories, physical inspection revealed actual second-hand car units without the necessary import permits.
“The X-ray imaging on-site revealed that the shipments, which were declared to contain assorted car accessories and supplies, actually have 12 motor vehicles inside,” a CIIS director said, explaining that this led to an alert order and a full physical examination of the containers.
The director said the two shipments, consigned to Danesh Consumer Goods Trading from the United States, contained: one 1996 Acura Integra, three 1998 Honda Civics, one 1999 Honda Civic, four 2000 Honda Civics, one 2002 Honda S2000, one 2004 Honda S2000 and one 2007 Mini Cooper S.
BoC deputy commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy stated the shipments were intercepted for carrying misdeclared and undeclared items.
“We had solid information that these shipments may be smuggling motor vehicles into our country under the guise of importing car accessories and parts,” Uy said.
“This is why our officers have been hard at work these past weeks to verify the information our intelligence unit received and apply the proper seizure procedures,” he added.
Meantime, the BoC said that those involved in the smuggling operation will face the full extent of the law.
“These are in clear violation of Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act,” said the BoC. “The bureau will file the appropriate cases and make sure that these organizations will be held responsible. The BoC is not beating around the bush.”
