The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Customs seize P410,000 worth of ukay clothes. Photo from Bureau of Customs.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) intercepted P410,000 worth of “ukay-ukay” clothes in Sorsogon, which they turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the bureau said on Tuesday.
The clothes were found in a private van coming from Manila to Catarman, Northern Samar, said the BOC.
“A total of 31 bales of used clothing, commonly known as ‘ukay-ukay,’ and 10 bales of used shoes with an estimated street value of P410,000 were intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) – Sorsogon and turned over to the Bureau of Customs-Port of Legazpi on December 6,” said the BOC in a statement.
The BOC said that it recommended issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention against the goods in violation of Sections 118, 1113, and 1401 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Respectively, these charges are the Sale of perishable goods during forfeiture proceedings, Property subject to seizure and forfeiture, and Unlawful importation or exportation.
“It also violated Republic Act No. 4653, or ‘An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags’,” said the BOC.
According to the BOC, this is part of its efforts to secure the country’s borders against prohibited goods.