BOC seizes P316-M worth of smuggled frozen meat, fake goods

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized some P316-million worth of goods, including frozen meat and fake goods, illegally shipped into the Philippines.

According to the BOC, the apprehended shipments included P16 million worth of frozen meat, Peking duck, and black duck from a storage facility in Navotas City.

Some P300-million worth of items that infringed on intellectual property rights were likewise found in storage facilities in Pasay City.

The shipments were said to have carried the brands Nike, Lacoste, Jag, Louis Vuitton, Jordan, Crocs, Adidas, Havaianas, Disney, Frozen, Hello Kitty, Tribal, Dickies, Mossimo, Levi's, Petrol, Gap, Fila, Uniqlo, Lee, Puma, DC, and Marvel.

The items are undergoing inventory and investigation for the possible violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and other intellectual property laws of the Philippines.

"As the nation continues to gear towards a fully recovered economy, the Bureau of Customs remains committed in performing its border security duties and anti-smuggling campaign," the BOC said.

The BOC is mandated to assess and collect customs revenues from imported goods and exercise border control to prevent the entry of smuggled goods. — DVM, GMA News