₱105-M fake goods seized in Divisoria

Bureau of Customs (BoC) agents seized yesterday at least ₱105 million worth of goods when they raided three warehouses allegedly supplying fake items to shops in Divisoria.

The raided warehouses are located inside the Dagupan Center at 1331 Dagupan Street in Tondo, Manila, Col. Neil Anthony Estrella, Customs – Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) director, said.

Estrella said the items included hundreds of boxes of Rexona sachet deodorants; Safeguard soaps; Bulldog super glue; Insect spray; baby diapers; Spalding basketball; mosquito coils; lighters; Mongol pencils; toothbrushes; steel scrubs; spools and rain coats.

The warehouses were uncovered after three months of surveillance, according to Estrella.

The CIIS chief said that the operation stemmed from a tip from brand owners whose products were being faked in China, then smuggled into the country by unscrupulous importers.

Intelligence Agent Ernan Abario, surveillance officer, said the contraband can be stored in at least 9x40 container vans.

“In our estimate, the entire shipment is enough to stand as a good supply depot for countless shops in Divisoria and other locations in Metro Manila and last for several months,” Abario said.

“Hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting consumers will end up buying these fake items in the market, around Divisoria and other places not knowing these will pose serious risks to their health and well-being,” Abario added.

Case agent Jimmy Guban disclosed that the owners of the counterfeit items are Chinese businessmen who refused to receive the official copy of the Letter of Authority (LoA) and Mission Order (MO) issued by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on May 9, 2017.