Customs files smuggling charges vs. trading firms, brokers

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday slapped two trading firms and their brokers with smuggling charges before the Department of Justice for alleged illegal importation of merchandise worth P18 million.

 

Under the Run After The Smugglers (RATS) name and shame mechanism of the BOC, Zachris General Merchandise owner Daribeth Sevillano and her customs broker Joseph Spencer Lopez together with Richflow Trading owner Crisanto Caldozo Jr. and broker Janet Jackelou Coriga were said accused of violating the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

 

Cebu-based Sevilla of Zachris Merchandise was caught with a 20-foot container van with 1,200 cartons of DVD-Rs worth P8 million, according to the bureau.

 

Meanwhile, Richflow Trading was found with a 40-footer container van having 88,750 pieces of DVDs, 103,800 pieces of cell phone and laptop accessories, unidentified chemicals and other goods worth P10 million, the bureau noted.

 

Both trading firms’ owners were also charged for violating the Optical Media Act of 2003. The bureau said they failed to produce an Optical Media Board permit for the DVDs.

 

GMA News Online tried contacting the trading firms for comment but the Customs bureau did not have their contact numbers. They also did not have an online presence.

 

The attempts to smuggle the DVDs and other goods happened at the Cebu Port for Zachris Merchandise and Manila International Container Port for Richflow Trading last March, said Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon.

 

“The BOC’s anti-smuggling campaign is now on a high-gear,” Biazon noted. “So we expect more seizures and charges to be filed within the coming weeks.” 

 

“I have made instructions to all concerned BOC officials to spare no one,” he said. —VS, GMA News