₱3.77-M abandoned goods seized

An inspection of abandoned cargoes at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) Friday led to the discovery of ₱3.77-million misdeclared carrots and other goods.

Six of the seven container vans, which were declared abandoned by the port’s district collector, were found to contain carrots behind boxes of apples with a total dutiable value of more than ₱1.97 million.

“The six containers of carrots arrived at the MICP on Aug. 24, 2018 with no filed goods declaration for more than fifteen days from the date of discharge of the last package,” Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said.

A decree of abandonment against the shipment was issued after the consignee failed to file the entry within the prescribed period on Oct. 8.

It was consigned to ASD Total Package Enterprises, Inc. and were only declared as fresh apples, which, according to Lapeña, is a violation of Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation), Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) in relation to Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2016.

One of the containers, on the other hand, was found to contain 500 boxes of used clothes, shoes and toys worth ₱1.8 million. The shipment arrived at the port on Sept. 4, 2018 and was consigned to Freccia Prime Marketing Co.

“The consignee declared the shipment as to contain hangers and plastic racks. It was deemed abandoned since the consignee and their broker showed no interest in processing their alerted shipment,” Lapeña said.

Freccia Prime Marketing Co. violated Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Smuggling Act of 2016 and Republic Act 4653 Prohibiting the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles commonly known as Used Clothing and Rags.

Lapeña said the consignees are now facing criminal charges and revocation of Customs accreditation for the attempt to defraud the Bureau of Customs.