P4.5M in smuggled onions seized at Manila port
THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has P4.5 million worth of smuggled onions fron China at the Port of Manila, Commissioner Isidro Lapena said on Monday.
Lapena ordered the port collector to issue a warrant of seizure and detention on the hot goods, which were misdeclared as ceramic mugs, saucer and decors and placed inside three 40-foot container vans.
“A warrant for seizure and detention will be issued against the P4.5-million worth shipment for violating Section 1400 in relation to Sections 1113 and 1401 of the Customs Modernization Tariff Act,” Lapena said.
Lapena said that the three container vans were issued alert orders after x-ray scanning revealed suspicious images that were different from the declared items.
“These containers were subjected to a non-intrusive inspection by the X-ray Inspection Project (XIP), however, scanned image showed other items that do not correspond to the declaration which are mugs, saucer, and decors,” Lapena said.
It prompted PoM Collector Erastus Sandino Austria, through the recommendation of XIP chief Zsae CArrie de Guzman, to issue an alert order to prevent the release of the goods from the custody of Customs.
The contrabands were consigned to Precious Prince Enterprises with office address at 15320-B St. Michael St., San Agustin Village, Moonwalk, Paranaque City. The signing broker was identified as Reymund Ledesma Cigaraya of Batasan Hills.
Appropriate charges will be filed against the importer and customs broker. Their accreditation with the Bureau of Customs will be suspended or revoked immediately.
From January to the present, an estimated P83.98 million worth of goods have been seized at the PoM. The blatant disregard of the customs and tariff laws has resulted to the revocation of the accreditation of several importers and customs brokers. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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