Raps filed vs. traders, importers of P206M worth of fake perfumes, cigarettes

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal charges against alleged traders and smugglers of counterfeit perfumes, cigarettes, and cosmetic products worth over P206 million.

Filed before the Department of Justice last August 9, complaints for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines were lodged against two warehouse operators in Manila and Quezon City, the bureau said Monday.

A Tondo, Manila warehouse belonging to a Justine Lim contained fake cosmetic products and perfumes, including counterfeit versions of Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Polo Sport, Georgio Armani and Clinique Happy, which lacked the necessary permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the BOC said.

Customs agents also allegedly found the warehouse of one Erlinda D. Rico, a.k.a Linda Chua—owner of three warehouses in Quezon City and Sta. Cruz, Manila—to contain counterfeit cigarettes, soaps and seasoning products that similarly lacked an FDA permit.

The supposed imitation products, which the BOC said could have posed a serious danger to health if released in the market, were worth an aggregate amount of P206,083,650.52.

The bureau also said it filed charges against one Kaidar Ismael, owner of Al-Khong Trading, and customs broker Rowena Palisoc for allegedly smuggling 540 reams of Indonesian cigarettes worth P500,000 inclusive of duties and taxes.

The cigarettes were declared as kitchen wares and other household items, the BOC said, leading to a complaint for unlawful importation and misdeclaration of goods under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. — BM, GMA News