P9-B in fake cigarette stamps, smuggled goods seized in Customs raid in Quezon City
BUREAU of Customs (BoC) operatives seized over the weekend some P9 billion worth of fake cigarette tax stamps and various smuggled goods in a surprise raid at several warehouses in Quezon City.
Raided by elements of the Customs’ Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) was the PTFC Compound at 802 Marvex Drive corner A. Bonifacio Ave., Quezon City where three warehouses were found to contain thousands of fake cigarette tax stamps worth P8.5 billion.
Also found inside the same warehouses were more than 100 sacks of rice, used clothing or “ukay-ukay,” fake goods such as wallets and bags — all without proof of payment of duties and taxes.
Also recovered were 20 boxes of wine bottles with supposed expensive jewelry found inside.
Others such as trucks and auto parts, fertilizers and chemicals used for agricultural crops were also found in the two separate warehouses. The goods were placed under Customs custody pending submission of proof of payment of duties and taxes.
The apprehension was the result of a tip from an informant that fake cigarette tax stamps and other dutiable goods were stored inside various warehouses in the PTFC Compound.
Acting on the report, Commissioner Isidro Lapeña immediately issued on August 1 Letter of Authority 08-01-045-2018 to investigate and inspect the compound.
“These cigarette tax stamps were verified as fake through the taggant reader, an equipment used by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to test the authenticity of cigarette tax stamps,” said Lapeña.
Lawyer Erastus Sandino Austria, BOC spokesperson, said the bureau would coordinate with the BIR over the discovery of fake cigarette tax stamps.
The BOC-ESS also reported that the three warehouses were owned by On Time Trading owned by certain Franco Wong, Patriana Navarro Wong, Johnny So, Arlene Hung Cai, Helios Hung, and Joyslyn Navarro Wong.
No arrest was made because the owners of the five warehouses were not in the premises during the raid. The concerned parties were given 15 days to prove or show the source of the goods and the payment of duties and taxes.
Importation of fake goods is prohibited under Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). WILLIAM DEPASUPIL
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