Surrender smuggled Bugatti – BoC

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Sunday urged the owner of one of the two smuggled Bugatti Chiron hypercars to surrender the vehicle to the authorities.

The blue sports car with plate number NIM 5448 was registered to Thu Thrang Nguyen.

“Surrender, or you will face the consequences. We already have the information on the location of the car, but we are still verifying this. But for the owner, it would be better for him to surrender, similar to what the owner of the red Bugatti did yesterday (Saturday),” Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said.

The other smuggled vehicle, a red sports car with plate number NIM 5450 and registered to Menguin Zhu, was surrendered to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port on Friday.

The BoC earlier this week announced that it was in pursuit of two smuggled Bugatti Chiron sports cars worth around P165 million each.

“We are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration about the background of the foreign registered owner and as well as with the Land Transportation Office for further information on how the two Bugatti cars were registered without going through the proper importation process and payment of correct duties and taxes due on the subject cars,” Rubio added.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso has issued a directive to intensify the hunt for the smuggled car.

“To the owner of the blue Bugatti, I promise that we will find you. A sports car like this attracts attention on the road. With the promise of a cash reward, we expect to receive information as soon as you drive your car on the road. It’s going to be a small world from now on,” he said.

The BoC promised cash rewards for informants in accordance with Section 1512 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act that provides a bounty amounting to 20 percent of the value of the confiscated smuggled goods.