Customs charges erring importers, brokers

The Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has filed criminal cases against three importers for their alleged misdeclaration and illegal importation of restricted goods before the Department of Justice (DoJ) last 22 to 26 February 2021.

The first case was against Mountain View Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of various agricultural products with a total value of P7,252,561.85 last 13 July 2020 at the Port of Subic.

Next filed was against MBS Cargo Movers Co. for the alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of cigarettes with a total value of P36,590,901.10 last 4 February 2021 at the Manila International Container Port.

The last case was filed against Lenoil Houseware Trading for the alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of various general merchandise with a total value of P1,248,614.49 last 13 August 2020 at the Port of Manila.

The BoC said all the consignees and their respective Licensed Customs Brokers purportedly committed various violations of Republic Act (RA) 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, RA 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, the Revised Penal Code and other allied laws, as amended.

The administrative cases before the Prefessional Regulations Commission will also be filed against the erring Licensed Customs Brokers of MBS Cargo Movers Co. and Lenoil Houseware Trading.

The bureau warns all unscrupulous importers that rampant misdeclaration of goods defrauds the government of its rightful revenues.