Trading firm, broker face raps for smuggling fake footwear brands

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs on Monday filed a smuggling complaint against a trading firm and its broker from importing P107 million worth of fake footwear brands.

Facing a complaint before the Department of Justice for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code and the Intellectual Property Code are Ma. Rosalia Quiambao, owner, proprietor and General Manager of Fort-Jhorel International Trading, based in Binondo, Manila, and the firm’s customs broker Henry Villa.

They were slapped with the complaint after the BOC last March 27 seized three 40-foot container vans with footwear bearing faked brands such as Nike, Havaianas, Abercrombie, Hush Puppies, Sandugo, Nathaniel, Sanuk, Disney and Happy Feet.

The shipment was declared as packages containing eye glasses, paper box, stationery pads, Happy Feet rubber shoes,  men’s and ladies’ leather shoes and slippers.

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