THE Bureau of Customs seized some P20 million worth of illegally imported goods from China which included used clothing or “ukay-ukay,” machine excavator, truck spare parts, agricultural products and fake branded rubbers shoes at the Port of Manila.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said Tuesday the shipments were consigned to Scuderia Enterprises, Scarlet Red Marketing, Santo Nino Market, and Imperial Foods and Agri Products, and will face appropriate charges for violating customs laws.
The BoC chief said a warrant of seizure and detention was issued after the Office of the District Collector of Port of Manila found that the shipments were all misdeclared to defraud the government of millions of rightful duties and taxes.
The importation of used clothing is banned by the government to protect the public’s health and to the detriment of local garment manufacturers.
“Importation of use clothing is prohibited to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles commonly known as used clothing and rags,” Lapeña said.
He said the shipments were declared as ribbon, yarn, footwear, and wearing apparel but found to be used clothing after the BoC conducted an inspection.
“The importer declared the contents as footwear but what was found were cartons of shoes bearing fake brands of Supreme, Nike, Crocs, Havaianas, Fila, and Adidas. Christine May Burlaza appeared as the signing customs broker of the importer according to the import entries submitted,” Lapena said.
“The Imperial Foods and Agri Products failed to declare the full price of the goods. Moreover, the shipment lacks Food and Drugs Administration permit,” Lapena added.
The bureau will continue to conduct spot inspection of shipments suspected to contain smuggled and contraband goods in a bid to stop the proliferation of smuggled products in the country.