BOC seizes P75M worth of fake iPhones, tablets, other smartphones

Operatives of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized on Monday fake iPhones, tablets, and other smartphones valued at P75 million.

BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the operation stemmed from the tip of a brand owner’ representative that fake gadgets were stored inside Warehouse 6, #641 Fernandez Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The warehouse is owned by Joseph Lee, Albert Chua, and Kevin Sy, according to the BOC.

“Based on the initial report from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), these smartphones and tablets of brands ZH&K, Chico Mobile, CKK, and Samsung bear fake NTC stickers,” Lapeña said.

“We have given the warehouse owners 15 days from the date of inspection to provide importation documents and other pertinent documents. We will proceed with the seizure and forfeiture proceedings of their goods,” he said.

Lapeña noted the gadgets did not seem to have any importation permit from the NTC.

Neil Crowther, brand owner representative, also confirmed that the confiscated cell phones and tablets without NTC stickers are counterfeit versions of iPhone, Nokia, and Vivo.

Other brand owner representatives have yet to certify that the phones are counterfeit, the BOC said.

Cases will be filed against the warehouse owners for violating Section 118 (Prohibited Importation and Exportation) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code, the bureau said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/VDS, GMA News