38 used cars seized at Port Irene

More than 30 secondhand vehicles worth more or less P1.2 million were seized at Port Irene in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced Friday.

“The legal basis for the seizure is Executive Order 156, which prohibits the import of used vehicles except for certain special type of vehicles,” said Customs Commissioner John Sevilla on Friday.

The seized units were Nissan Serena (2000 model), Hummer H2 (2003 and 2005 models), Honda Fit (2003), and Toyota Alfard (2002 model).  

Sevilla said the importer, Fenix (CEZA) International, Inc., had filed an import entry for the vehicles, which signified the firm’s intention to bring the used cars outside the Freeport zone and into Philippine customs territory.

“We immediately sent team to examine the vehicles,” the BOC chief said. “When they filed the entry, they did not indicated there what kind of vehicles.”

“As a result of the examination they did not fall under the exemptions. That is why we issued a warrant of seizure,” he added.
 
Fenix (CEZA) International, Inc. is one of two accredited used car importers at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZF).
 
The seized vehicles are part of the more than 800 second-hand cars imported through the said port in three batches.
 
The first shipment came in last December 14 with 347; followed by 266 units that arrived on January 3. The last batch entered the port with 234 units on January 27 from South Korea. — KBK, GMA News