Customs seizes P50 million worth of smuggled goods in Manila mall

At least P50 million worth of alleged counterfeit and smuggled products were confiscated in a mall in Quiapo, Manila during a raid by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Mariz Umali, at least 68 storage units were inspected after the BOC received reports of fake branded clothes being sold in the establishment.

Among the seized items were fake clothes, accessories, computers and electronic equipment, and videoke machines.

“Nagconduct po kami ng masusing imbestigasyon sa loob ng ilang buwan. Tinignan namin, minanmanan namin itong establisyemento na ‘to. Nagconduct din kami ng mga test buys and confirmed nga po, positive, maraming brands ang ipinepeke,” Nico Acosta, lawyer of a complainant, said.

Authorities said owners owners of alleged counterfeit items must prove they have documents of their goods.

“Ang daming negosyong nagsasara, so maraming nalulugi [at] walang benta. ‘Yung mga legitimate na negosyo, mawawalan ng kita [pati] yung gobyerno,” BOC official Dominic Garcia said.

“More important is yung health hazard niya eh yung risk pag fake yung electronics baka eto pa maging cause ng sunog,” he added.

The BOC is set to destroy all proven counterfeit items to avoid redistribution in the market.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA News