Flood victims to get seized ‘ukay-ukay’

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) plans to donate P20 million worth of smuggled used clothing (“ukay-ukay”) to northern Mindanao folk who were displaced last month by floods spawned by Tropical Storm “Sendong.”

Agents of the BOC Enforcement Group led by Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing foiled the attempt to smuggle in the contraband hidden in five vans and misdeclared as assorted garments at the port of Manila last week.

Suansing said the vans, which were consigned to Heritage Asia International Products Trading Co. and Global Welltrade Trading Co., contained used clothing, footwear and bags.

Importation of used clothing, popularly known as ukay-ukay, is banned under Republic Act No. 4653.

Customs Commissioner Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon ordered the speedy forfeiture of the contraband so this may be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to the flood victims.

“We’re making them available for donation to Sendong victims. If the relief agencies say they need them, we’re ready to release them. If they don’t need them, then we’ll store them for future relief efforts,” Biazon told reporters. Jerome Aning