₱18.3-M undeclared fake products, dried tea seized at Port of Manila

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) seized last Thursday some ₱18.3 million worth of undeclared dried tea and counterfeit apparel and shoes at the Port of Manila. Boxes of shoes, imitating famous footwear brands, and various dried tea were found in a shipment from Vietnam during an inspection on September 24.

The ₱18.3-million shipment arrived from Vietnam last September 12 and was consigned to Crimsonguard Trading.

According to the Customs bureau, the exporter of the shipment was “inconsistent with their list of commodities.”

The Port Control Office (PCO) under the Intelligence Group also received derogatory information that the shipment contains herbal powder and counterfeit apparels.

Upon 100 percent physical examination, the customs examiner found whitening herbal powder, fake Lacoste wearing apparel, Vans and Converse branded shoes and undeclared assorted dried tea.

A warrant of seizure and detention against the entire shipment was already issued by District Collector Michael Angelo Vargas for violation of Section 1400, in relation to Section 1113 “Property Subject Seizure and Forfeiture” of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

“The Port of Manila is continuously intensifying its efforts to safeguard the country’s borders and remains vigilant to curb the entry of smuggled goods under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero,” Vargas said in a statement.