BOC intercepts P10B worth of counterfeit bags, shoes in Binondo

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted P10 billion worth of counterfeit bags, shoes, and other items in a storage facility in Binondo, Manila.

Personnel of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Task Force Aduana of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raided the storage facility after receiving a “derogatory information” about the Binondo warehouse on Tuesday.

Authorities found imported clothing apparel, shoes, general merchandise, kitchenwares, electronics, and beauty products upon the inspection of the warehouse.

The BOC said these items infringe trademarks such as Nike, Coach, Adidas, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Gucci, among others.

The agency said the composite team has temporarily padlocked and sealed the warehouse.

The inventory of the counterfeit items, on the other hand, will be conducted by an assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by the BOC’s CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) agents.

According to the BOC, the owners of the goods would be asked to present importation documents or proof of payment to the authorities.

“If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA),” the BOC said in a statement on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy said BOC personnel used all available resources to stop counterfeit items from entering the market.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA Integrated News