Warehouse raids yield P7.3-B fake goods

MORE than P7 billion worth of fake designer underwear and other goods were discovered during raids in several warehouses by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP).

The raids in Caloocan City and Bocaue, Bulacan, yielded infringed goods, household items, kitchenware, hardware materials, toys, and appliances, among others.

Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Sunday described the operation as a significant step in the agency’s campaign against smuggling.

“While we understand that there is a brazen attempt to smuggle in such a large amount of infringed goods and other items, we are also confident that we are doing the necessary actions needed to address these activities,” Rubio said.

“At the core of our mission is the protection of Filipinos and ensuring the safety of imported goods, so it is necessary for our agency to stop these items from hitting the shelves and victimizing people,” he said.

CIIS Director Verne Enciso said that in a compound in Caloocan City, agents found 3,500 bales of underwear and socks bearing the brands of Nike, Jordan, Mossimo, Bench, Levi’s, Under Armour and Gucci worth an estimated P4.3 billion.

Other warehouses in the compound yielded women’s sandals, speakers, foodstuff, industrial pipe fittings and sanitary kitchenware worth P70 million.

“The goods we found in the Caloocan City operation are also drivers of our local market, but without the proper taxes paid and the required safety inspection, the health of our sellers and consumers is at risk. Not to mention, having these infringed goods on our shelves puts into question our commitment to IP (intellectual property) rights,” Enciso said.

The warehouses in Bocaue housed various items amounting to P3 billion.

Enciso said the goods include kitchenware, liquid detergents, playing cards, hardware materials, appliances, clothing apparel, toys, computer accessories, gadgets, cosmetics, school supplies, plastic wares, power tools, mosquito coils, swimming vest and pools, toys, scented candles, party materials, skateboards and piggy banks, cash box, tents, and other general merchandise.

The raids were based on a Letter of Authority (LOA) issued by the Customs commissioner, which was acknowledged by the compound administrator in both locations.

The warehouses were locked and sealed, pending the inventory of goods to be conducted by a Customs examiner and to be witnessed by CIIS, the Enforcement and Security Service, and the warehouse representatives.

Those responsible would be charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8293 or the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines,” and RA 10863, or the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.”

Under the IP Code, confiscated counterfeit goods should be condemned to prevent their being sold in the local market.