Customs seizes P22M worth of smuggled ukay-ukay in Baguio City

 

At least P22 million worth of ukay-ukay smuggled into the country as scrap fabric were seized in nine warehouses in Baguio City, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Wednesday.

 

In a news release, the BOC said nearly 2,800 bales of used clothing, comforters and other garments were taken from the warehouses on Tuesday.

 

Under Republic Act 4653, commercial importation of used clothing is banned in the country.

 

The items – mostly branded apparel from the United States and Canada – got into the country through locators in the Subic and Clark Freeport zones, as well as the Cavite Export Processing Zone in Rosario, Cavite, the bureau said.

 

Export manufacturing enterprises registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority are allowed tax- and duty-free importation of raw materials, capital equipment, machinery and spare parts.

 

Bonifacio de Castro, BOC district collector in San Fernando, La Union, said: "What makes this situation worse is that we have found evidence that certain locators granted fiscal privileges by over government have abused these perks," smuggling used clothing in the guise of scrap fabric.

 

The seized items will be subjected to forfeiture proceedings "in favor of the government," while follow-up operations are underway to identify importers and traders who will be charged with illegal importation, the BOC said. – Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/VS, GMA News