Bureau of Customs seizes undervalued motorcycles, chemicals

The Bureau of Customs has seized P8 million worth of supposedly smuggled shipments of brand new motorcycles, chemicals and plumbing supplies.

 

In a statement Wednesday, the bureau said 48 brand new Yamaha YZR R15 150cc motorcycles, consigned to Motozentrum Philippines Inc., arrived at the Port of Manila in December last year.

 

According to its import documents, the motorcycles were declared as "in knocked-down condition" from Thailand.

 

The importer also declared the shipments were valued $10,197.88 (P450,644.32) or $212.46 (P9,388.61) for each motorcycle.

 

The BOC Enforcement Group in January 2014 conducted a document and physical examination and found the motorcycles "completely built-up, with only the front wheel left to be attached."

 

The bureau group also found out that the motorcycles came from Calcutta, India.

 

BOC said the owners and the licensed Customs broker of Motozentrum Philippines may face smuggling-related charges.

 

The suggested selling price of a brand new Yamaha YZR R15 in India is $1,812 (P80,072.28), about 85 percent higher than the declared value, according to the bureau.

 

Also seized were two 20-foot container vans with cargo declared as Phtalic Anhydride but was found to be "lead bromate pigment," a chemical used in making glass types but is poisonous and may detonate or explode when heated, rubbed or combined with other chemicals, the bureau said.

 

The bureau said the gross undervaluation is a violation of Republic Act 6969, which regulates importation, distribution, and transport of toxic substances.

 

The chemicals consigned to Frebel Enterprises arrived in March 2014.

 

Another 40-foot container, which arrived in January 2014 and imported by Unipipe Phils. Inc., was loaded with pipes, fittings, and valves. The BOC said the shipment was also "grossly undervalued."

 

The bureau claimed "strict" enforcement and monitoring have increased BOC's collection in the past months or an 18 percent higher valuation and a 19 percent increase in duties and taxes during the nine-month period. – Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/VS, GMA News