BOC seizes P300M worth of fake products in Quezon City warehouse

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated P300 million worth of fake food seasoning and other products from China during a raid in Quezon City, according to a report on on GMA News' "Balitanghali" on Friday.

The raid covered three warehouses in Barangay Masambong on Thursday after two months of surveillance.

The bogus food seasoning that made it to the market is a threat to the health and well being of consumers.

"Pag mura ang item, you begin to suspect," said Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña.

One way of determining fake products is by checking if the identifying number beside the expiry date is identical to similar products on a shelf.

"Kung nagpare-parehas 'yang number na iyan then, ayun, peke iyon. Kasi, sequential iyan," Lapeña said.

The owner of the warehouse—a "big-time smuggler"—was not in the area when the raid was conducted, Lapeña noted.

The BOC said the owner is facing charges of violating Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and the Intellectual Property Rights for possession of the contraband. — Margaret Claire Layug/VDS, GMA News