Lapeña to sue 5 customs men, 5 importers for collusion

At least five customs personnel and five importers were under investigation after 25 shipping containers were taken out of the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) in Misamis Oriental and 12 others were found packed with illegal shipments of onions and sugar.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said he had ordered the “indefinite suspension” of the acting port collector, deputy collector for assessment and three members of the enforcement and security service section of the MCT because of apparent “collusion.”

He did not identify those involved, but said they faced administrative and criminal charges.

Lapeña said there was a “successful effort to thwart legal orders” when 25 containers were “illegally released” from the Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s yard in Tagoloan town.

Order ignored

As early as June 25, Lapeña said he had already placed the shipments on an alert list and reiterated his instructions to the Cagayan de Oro port on June 28 and July 3.

The alert orders resulted in the Bureau of Customs’ seizure of 12 containers with sugar and onions that were consigned to JDan Trading, General Success Merchandise and Mave Trading.