P12.9 million worth of smuggled goods seized

CUSTOMS CHIEF Isidro Lapeña inspected Monday various seized goods estimated at P12.9 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). Bureau of Customs (BoC) agents uncovered P5.4 million worth of yellow onions and fresh potatoes inside three abandoned containers from China. The shipments, consigned to ZIDP Trading, arrived at the port on Dec. 8, 2017. It was misdeclared as fresh apples and lacked the necessary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). A shipment from Korea, declared as assorted wearing apparel, yielded suspicious images after x-ray scanning which prompted customs personnel to conduct physical examination. The shipment was discovered to contain used clothing and was seized in violation of the Republic Act No. 4653 which bans the importation of such. The shipment was consigned to R.L. Son Trading and arrived at the port on Nov. 29, 2017. Customs agents also found P2 million worth of Chunghua soft cigarettes contained inside an overstaying cargo from Korea which was consigned to Maxafrica Mfg. Pvt. Ltd.. The consignee failed to present the corresponding permit from the National Tobacco Administration which led to its seizure. It arrived at the port on Sept. 30, 2017. A shipment consigned to Japare International Trading and declared as used compressors and water pumps was later discovered to contain used motorbikes. The misdeclared shipment came from Japan and arrived at the port on September 22, 2017. It is reported to be worth P500,000. Four containers of onions consigned to Kavin Shipping Ltd. were also seized by BoC agents for lack of import permit from the BPI. The shipments from China arrived at the port on Sept. 15, 2017 and were estimated to be worth P4 million. The successful discovery stemmed from the strict examination of importation documents by customs personnel.