MICP seizes P4M worth of ‘hot vehicles’

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila International Container Port (MICP) issued a warrant of seizure and detention against 27 units of multicabs and one Nissan March for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP). According to Col. Jose Yuchongco, Customs police director, the vehicles worth P3 million were seized from the showroom of Every Motors Corporation located along Quirino Ave. cor Levereiza St. Manila owned by a certain Romel Laud. The firm violated Section 2530 (f) of the TCCP and Executive Order No. 156, which bans the importation of secondhand vehicles in the country. He said that upon investigation and surveillance, they found that the said multicabs and Nisaan were declared as replacement parts but were actually units of imported complete knockdown motor vehicles. “These vehicles were assembled and refurbished to make it appear as locally rebuilt,” Yuchongco said. Meanwhile, a second-hand two-door unit of Mercedes Benz series 300-CE-24 with an estimated value of P1 million was also seized at the Solid Lines Corp. at Pier 8, North Harbor Manila for the same violation. Under the rules, prohibited importations are immediately subject to seizure and forfeiture proceedings as they are classified as contraband. The vehicle is now at the MICP Parking area for safekeeping until final disposition, while the multicabs are now being stored at the Old Printing Haus of the Bureau of Customs Gate 3, Port Area, Manila. - GMANews.TV