THE Customs bureau has raised the alarm against illegal shipments with the onset of “ber” months leading to the holiday season.
Just last week, Customs-Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Arnel Alcaraz issued 50 alert orders on various shipments that arrived at the Manila International Container Port.
Three of the containers were declared as “foodstuff and potato crisp” by Lusitano Inc., with business address of 1379 San Gregorio Street in Paco, Manila, Customs official said.
Marlon Alameda, acting director of the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) in MICP, requested the alert for Lusitano’s shipment on possible “violation of Section 2503 in relation to Section 2530 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).”
They said the three containers entered the MICP from the United States last August 22, but these were placed under alert the next day.
On the same week, other alerted shipments involved those consigned to Goldsmith Trading, which contained 1095 PK Fabric Woven Fabric and assorted men’s and ladies’ cotton shirts. These arrived on August 25 from China.
The EG had also put on hold the release of the shipment of Trikris Enterprises. This was loaded with rubber shoes for adult and kids, 270 CT shirt dress pants, slippers, and sling bags, among others.
Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon has formed a ‘‘special committee’’ which will report directly to him in a bid to curtail smuggling.
Under Customs Special Order (CSO) 44-2016, the Special Studies and Project Development Committee (SSPDC), shall conduct “special project missions as may be directed by the commissioner.”
Based on the document, the SSPDC shall be composed of a commander, a deputy for operations in charge of supervising a “Rapid Deployment Force” and several teams covering the National Capital Region and the areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
While the SSPDC is to coordinate with other government agencies, it also has the authority over the enforcement of laws covering other unlawful acts such as those related to “immigration and movement of citizens, human trafficking, fugitives on international travel, control of human diseases, quarantine of animals, illegal drugs, hazardous materials, weapons and endangered species.”
To ensure public safety, the bureau also doubled its alert against anti-social goods such as firecrackers, substandard Christmas lights and other electronic decorations.