4 luxury vehicles from Japan held
A warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) was issued by the Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu against four luxury cars that were caught being smuggled from Japan earlier this week.
Port of Cebu District Collector Elvira Cruz said they have no value estimates yet for the Ranger Rover, the Porsche, the Mercedes Benz and the Alfa Romeo until these are placed under seizure and forfeiture proceedings.
Cruz, a lawyer, issued the WSD after the vehicles’ existence was confirmed during the examination conducted by Customs Examiner Ravel Abella, importer’s and representatives from the Enforcement and Security Services, X-Ray Inspection Project and the Office of the District Collector on Thursday, Jan. 3.
Based on records, the cars were imported by Kylemelan General Merchandize of Malabon City and arrived in Cebu from Japan last Dec. 19 under Bill of Lading 181206750071. The cargo inside the container was declared as “one piece of car body for decoration.”
But during the X-ray inspection, which scanned the contents of the container, it was discovered that the cargo was composed of the four vehicles.
This prompted the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to request Cruz to issue an alert order against the shipment for misdeclaration, a violation under Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Customs authorities will also ask during the seizure and forfeiture proceedings why a Malabon City-based importer would use the Port of Cebu when the Manila International Container Port is nearer.