Importer charged a 3rd time

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed a third set of smuggling cases against the owner of New Dawn Enterprises for the allegedly illegal importation of 260,000 kilograms of sugar worth some P13 million.

The BOC accused the firm’s owner, Michael Abella, of violations of the Tariff and Customs Code, not having produced any import permits and for misdeclaring the shipments.

The illegal shipments of 10 container vans of refined sugar arrived in December 2014 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.

In its import documents, New Dawn allegedly misdeclared the sugar imports as kitchenware and tiles.

A valid import permit is required for all sugar importations. All sugar importations without an import permit is unlawful, the BOC said.

New Dawn Enterprises is already facing separate charges for the illegal importation of rice.

The BOC slapped New Dawn with smuggling charges for the first time in January, for the illegal importation of glutinous rice worth P28 million. The shipment arrived at the Cagayan de Oro Port in November 2014, BOC records showed.

The second case was filed two months later in March, again for illegally importing rice worth P15.6 million in December 2014.

“We are hoping for the speedy resolution by the Department of Justice of the case we are filing today, as well as the other cases we have already filed, if only to send the strong message that we are really serious in the fight against smuggling,” said Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina in a statement.–Tina G. Santos