Intelligence Officer 3 Alvin Enciso, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at the Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), inspects counterfeit bags and apparel from a storage facility raided by authorities in Binondo, Manila on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
BOC raids warehouse with P10B worth of counterfeit bags, other items
IN a continuous effort to intensify its border protection measures, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, raided a storage facility in Binondo, Manila with an estimated P10 billion worth of counterfeit branded bags, shoes, and other products.
A composite team of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Task Force Aduana of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) implemented the Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio after receiving derogatory information about the Binondo warehouse.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy said it is through the commissioner’s strong leadership that such an operation is possible.
“Our good commissioner has taken it upon himself to lead the agency into a new chapter where our personnel are empowered to fulfill our mandate every day. His leadership allows us to get to the bottom of these illegal activities,” he said.
“Our BOC officials used all available resources and tools to thwart this attempt to enter such a huge amount of counterfeit items into our market. Imagine what this could do to our local producers and the foreign brands that invest in us?,” Uy asked.
Upon inspection of the warehouse, the team found imported assorted clothing apparel, shoes, general merchandise, kitchenwares, electronics, and beauty products.
These counterfeit items have infringe trademarks, such as Nike, Coach, Adidas, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Gucci, among others.
Warehouse representatives acknowledged the LOA and allowed the team to inspect the warehouses.
After finding the items, the team proceeded to temporarily padlock and seal the warehouse.
The inventory of the goods will be conducted by the assigned Customs examiner, and would be witnessed by agents from BOC’s CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS).
The owners of the goods would be asked to present importation documents or proof of payment by the Customs authorities.
If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
