Customs seizes P15-M worth of misdeclared luxury bags, shoes at Naia 

Personnel of the Bureau of Customs – Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport inspect the P15-million worth of intercepted luxury bags, shoes, wallets, and earrings shipped from Italy and misdeclared as other products. (Photo from BOC)

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs – Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport has intercepted P15-million worth of high-end bags, shoes, wallets, and earrings misdeclared as other products.

According to a BOC report on Tuesday, the shipment composed of 17 cartons from Italy was misdeclared as shampoo, soap, towels, toiletries, canned goods, milk, and chocolates.

“The misdeclaration is an apparent attempt to evade payment of correct duties and taxes by circumventing duty and tax-free privileges afforded to ‘balikbayan’ boxes,” the bureau said.

Customs examiners, however, uncovered the misdeclaration upon review of commercial documents, which prompted the immediate physical examination of the shipment.

A closer look at the cargo confirmed that it contains the luxury items, according to BOC.

District Collector Carmelita Talusan said the shipment will be seized and subjected to forfeiture proceedings for violation of Section 1400 (misdeclaration, misclassification, underevaluation in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

Records of the apprehension will also be referred to the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers for case profiling and build-up against the personalities involved in the “foiled smuggling.”

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JPV