SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The latest bust: smuggled sports car, motorcycles, and computer sets worth P11.1 million ($250,960.89).
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized these goods at the Manila International Container Port (MICT) on violation of laws against technical smuggling.
Technical smuggling is an act of fraudulently, falsifying or erroneously declaring imported goods entering a country. Outright smuggling is bringing in goods without complete government importation documents.
Following an alert order by the bureau’s Enforcement Group on the shipment consigned to Panda Vine International Trading, a 100% document and physical examination in February this year showed that the shipment from Japan declared as 873 units of used bicycles also contained a right-hand drive Subaru WRX 2000 cc sports car; 13 units Honda and 2 units Yamaha scooters; motorcycle parts; and other used car parts.
In addition, the motor vehicles imported by Panda Vine lacked a permit from the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Import Service, which is a requirement when importing motor vehicles.
The importation of right-hand drive vehicles is also banned under Republic Act No. 8506.
The container van consigned to Capas Pottery and Genenral Merchandise was also misdeclared as computer parts when they turned out to be complete sets of computers. The shipment was also grossly undeclared.
Any discrepancy between what was declared and what was found that exceeds 30% is gross undervaluation, which constitutes prima facie fraud under Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).
Meanwhile, the 1 x 40 foot container van of 672 units of computers was revealed to be grossly undervalued with the declared value at only $17,400 (P769,602.30) while its actual value is $296,352 (P13,109,021.66).
Thus BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention on the shipments for alleged violation of the TCCP.
The owners and licensed customs brokers of these shipments could face smuggling-related charges for the fraudulent importation. – Rappler.com
US$1 = P44.23
P1 = US$0.0226
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