Smuggled appliances seized in Pasig, Mandaluyong malls

Top-of-the-line television sets worth P1.5 million allegedly imported illegally by an appliance store were seized by agents of the Bureau  of Customs (BoC) recently.

According to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, seven units of Sharp LED TV sets were taken from the Listening in Style stores located at Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong and in Eastwood, Pasig City.

The stores’ personnel had failed to show proof that duties and taxes had been paid for the TV sets, Biazon added.

The customs official said the raid was prompted by a request from Sharp Philippines to conduct an investigation of the stores’ possible illegal importation of high-end TV sets.

Following weeks of surveillance, BoC agents seized one unit of Sharp 90-inch LED TV worth P600,000; two units of Sharp’s 80-inch LED TV worth P300,000 each; and four units of Sharp’s 60-inch LED TV estimated at  P85,000 each.

“The Bureau of Customs will not limit its antismuggling operations to the ports.  We will enforce our mandate to apprehend smugglers and smuggled goods anywhere in the Philippines, ” Biazon said.

Listening in Style’s legal counsel, in its Offer of Settlement, said the TV sets were bought from an overseas Filipino worker.