Customs steps up crackdown on contraband

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Bureau of Customs has stopped the release of two container vans with P400 million worth of counterfeit products, including medicine, from the Port of Manila.

Deputy Customs Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim said the two vans were declared to contain plastic wares and bags.

Upon inspection, however, the vans were found to contain counterfeit wrist watches, luxury bags, Tuseran Forte capsules; cell phone batteries carrying the Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung brands, and cell phone chargers.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon earlier ordered the seizure of  P35 million worth of misdeclared and undervalued candies, outboard motors,  motor oils, electric meters, water skiing devices and equipment for the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Agents under Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Horacio Suansing Jr. discovered the contraband at the Manila International Container Port.

As a result of the seizures, the customs bureau has placed under investigation various firms such as Imax Harbor, Scan Marine Inc., Genesis Grace Trading, Extreme Five Trading Corp., Telsphere International Trading Corp., and WA Bitancor Enterprises.

“Because of the bureau’s higher collection target this year, I have ordered all our people to be more vigilant to ensure that no contraband is able to enter the country,” Biazon said. Jerome Aning