BOC seizes P850-M bootlegged goods in Manila, Parañaque

Bureau of Customs —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — About P850-million worth of fake goods were seized inside several warehouses in Binondo and Parañaque, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Friday.

“The operation stemmed from the complaint we received from the brand representative of Nike in the Philippines that there are building units in Binondo containing fake goods. This prompted our intelligence team [to investigate] the subject warehouse units,” Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero said in a statement.

The Customs chief added that BOC agents seized an estimated amount of P700-million worth of clothing merchandise placed inside 2,500 sacks.

“Based on the initial inspection conducted by customs agents, the three warehouse units contain roughly 2,500 sacks of wearing apparel with an estimated value of P700 million,” Guerrero said.

Customs agents found counterfeit goods with brand names of “Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Supreme, Roxy, Marvel, Hello Kitty, Billabong.”

Meanwhile, an estimated P150 million worth of fake items were seized in the warehouses located at Meliton Espiritu Street, Steelhauz Compound, Sucat, Parañaque City.

The warehouses, upon inspection by customs operatives, were found to contain fake items with brands “Nike, Adidas, Red Bull, Tsing Tao, HP, Heineken, Oakley, Under Armour, Champion, Tribal, Bench, Peppa Pig, Disney-Minions, Disney-Minnie Mouse, Cetaphil, Spiderman, Oneal, and Jaguar.”

The confiscated goods were brought to the Customs control and will undertake  “seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of the Customs laws.”

Under the Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, fake goods are prohibited. /jpv