Photo from the Bureau of Customs building
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities are now tracking down two alleged smuggled Bugatti sports cars that were recently seen roaming the streets of Metro Manila and Cavite, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Monday.
In a statement, BOC said Deputy Commissioner for Customs Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy recommended the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) against two Bugatti Chiron sports cars that were seen in the two areas, through social media posts.
BOC said Commissioner Bien Rubio agreed to the issuance of a WSD because there was “derogatory information” about the cars as early as November 2023.
The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) is already conducting case build-up according to Uy.
“The agency received information last November 2023 about the entry of these vehicles without going through regular customs clearance. These vehicles were also being openly advertised in online markets and various social media sites,” Uy said.
“The CIIS found during the course of the investigation that these vehicles were frequently being seen in the areas of Muntinlupa, Pasig, Pasay, and Cavite. And subsequently, on November 28, 2023, our Management Information System Technical Group (MISTG) confirmed that the motor vehicles do not have any import documents,” he added.
The first Chiron was said to bear a plte number NIM 5448 and the other one with NIM 5450, registered to foreign nationals.
BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso appealed to the public to provide information about the vehicles.
“We ask the public to give us any information about these vehicles if they see them. They can reach out to the BOC’s Intelligence Group or through the BOC Cares portal to report any sightings,” he said.
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“It’s important that we find these people and let them face the consequences of their actions. Cases like these highlight the audacity of the powerful, thinking they are above the law. They are shameless enough to even post about these vehicles on social media. I hope we can get information about these as soon as possible because we’re ready to file the appropriate cases,” he added.
Owners of the vehicles would be asked to present proper importation documents. But if they fail to do so, they may face charges for the possible violation of Section 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The Chiron is one of the most-sought after sports cars in the world, with production usually not going beyond the thousands mark. According to several car magazines, the Chiron could retail for at least US$3 million, without customs duties.
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With reports from Melanie Tamayo, trainee