Customs intercepts P6.5M worth of luxury bags, shoes at NAIA

The Bureau of Customs said Friday that it has apprehended "misdeclared" luxury goods in commercial quantity, approximately valued at P6.5 million at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Items Customs operatives intercepted were luxury handbag brands such Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Valentino; the haul also included shoes, and other accessories.

“Records show that the shipment was consigned to a certain Reynaldo Tan in Paircargo Warehouse and were misdeclared as personal effects, such as assorted clothes, and shampoo from Maisons-Alfort, France,” the BOC said.

“The misdeclaration is an apparent attempt to evade the payment of correct duties and taxes through the use of falsified or spurious documents, and circumvent the duty- and tax-free privileges granted on balikbayan boxes,” it said.

According to Customs, physical examination of the shipment confirmed that it actually consisted of luxury bags, shoes, sandals, shirts, and accessories in commercial quantity or 157 pieces.

District Collector Carmelita Talusan said the shipment shall be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

“Likewise, in compliance with the standing directives of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to prosecute smugglers, records and details of the said apprehension shall be referred to the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for case profiling and build up against the personalities involved in the foiled smuggling of misdeclared luxury items in commercial quantities,” the BOC said. —LBG, GMA News