DOTr asks NBI for help in probe into ‘smuggled’ Bugatti cars

The Bureau of Customs says that the owner of the red Bugatti Chiron sports car worth P165 million surrendered the luxury vehicle on Friday. It was located in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. (Photo courtesy of BOC)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help in its probe into the alleged smuggling of Bugatti Chiron cars into the country.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista made the request in a letter dated February 29 and addressed to NBI Director Merardo De Lemos, the DOTr said on Friday.

READ: Owner of smuggled luxury car surrenders vehicle to BOC

Bautista sought NBI assistance in determining possible criminal and administrative liabilities of those involved in the smuggling of the luxury cars, which were even registered at the Land Transportation Office.

According to Bautista, the LTO-National Capital Region discovered that “documentary and procedural irregularities appear to surround the eventual registration of these luxury vehicles.”

READ: Second Bugatti Chiron car turned over to BOC 

“The transport chief said he had already tasked the agency’s Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure and Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation to check on the LTO-NCR’s registration process for luxury vehicles,” the DOTr said in a statement.

The owners of the two allegedly smuggled Bugatti cars already surrendered the vehicles to the Bureau of Customs on February 9 and 21.

Last February 5, the bureau announced that they were tracking down two luxury cars that were allegedly imported without payment of the required tariffs and taxes.

Each car costs around P165 million before customs duties and taxes.