Customs seizes P18.3M worth of undeclared, fake products in Manila

The Bureau of Customs on Saturday said it has seized P18.3 million worth of undeclared and counterfeit items at the Port of Manilla.

In a statement, the BOC said Customs operatives at the Port of Manila intercepted the undeclared and fake items on September 24, 2020.

According operatives, the shipment arrived from Vietnam last September 12, 2020, and consigned to Crimsonguard Trading.

“Based on the initial report, the exporter of the shipment was inconsistent with their list of commodities,’ Customs said.

The Port Control Office (PCO) under the Intelligence Group received derogatory information that said shipment contains herbal powder and counterfeit apparels.

“Upon 100% physical examination, the Customs Examiner found whitening herbal powder, fake Lacoste wearing apparel, Vans and Converse branded shoes and undeclared assorted dried tea,” it said.

District Collector Michael Angelo Vargas issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the entire shipment for violation of Section 1400, in relation to Section 1113 “Property Subject Seizure and Forfeiture” of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

"The Port of Manila is continuously intensifying its efforts to safeguard the country’s borders and remains vigilant to curb the entry of smuggled goods under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero," according to the BOC. —LBG, GMA News