NASA 25 container vans na naglalaman ng undeclared agricultural goods at counterfeit products na nagkakahalaga ng P136.92 milyon, ang nasabat ng mga ahente ng Bureau of Customs.
Personal na ininspeksyon ni BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno ang tinatayang P136.92 milyong halaga ng misdeclared, regulated, and prohibited goods sa Port of Manila.
“The operation was conducted in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify efforts against smuggling and illicit trade,” ani Nepomuceno.
Base sa ulat, ang shipments na binubuo ng 25 containers ay pawang naka-consigne sa isang construction supplies trading company at sinasabing nagmula sa China.
Unang idineklara na plastic racks ang kargamento, subalit sa isinagawang physical examination ay nadiskubre ang iba’t ibang undeclared items.
Kabilang na ang agricultural products gaya ng bigas, at asukal na may halagang P18.134 milyon, at intellectual property rights (IPR)-infringing goods na may halagang P59.343 milyon, na nakapaloob sa 6,320 boxes, at bulto-bulto ng ukay ukay.
“This is exactly the kind of abuse we are determined to stop. When shipments are deliberately misdeclared, it not only deprives the government of rightful revenue—it also puts Filipino consumers and legitimate businesses at risk. We are tightening our border controls to ensure these shipments are intercepted before they can do harm,” pahayag ni Comm. Nepomuceno.
Kabilang sa mga kontrabando ang ilang uri ng chemicals na may halagang P101,000; used clothing, P22 milyon; electronics, P2.1 milyon; pharmaceutical products, P669,000; foodstuff, P43.75 milyon; at iba’t ibang commodities na may halagang P34.523 milyon. Bukod pa sa ilang cosmetic items na walang lebel at hindi rehistrado na posibleng magdudulot ng peligro sa kalusugan ng publiko at consumer safety.
(JESSE RUIZ)
101 
