By Betheena Unite
Four luxury vehicles from Japan were held by the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Cebu Saturday because they were misdeclared as car body decorations.
Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
A Range Rover Evoque, one Porsche 911, one Mercedes-Benz, and one Alfa Romeo were discovered in the shipment after a 100-percent physical examination.
Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
It was later learned that the shipment was imported by Kylemelan General Merchandise with office address in Malabon City.
Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
The shipment arrived at the Port of Cebu on December 19, 2018.
According to the bureau, after undergoing X-ray inspection, the scanning image of the shipment showed that it actually contained four completely-built-up (CBU) motor vehicles.
The discrepancy prompted Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) supervisor Carlo Bautista to request for the issuance of alert order against the shipment for suspected act of misdeclaration under Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The request to hold the shipment was then approved by district collector Atty. Elvira Cruz.
A non-intrusive examination on January 3 witnessed by the importer’s broker and representatives from Enforcement and Security Service, CIIS, X-Ray Inspection Project, and Office of the District Collector followed.
It was when the four luxury vehicles were discovered. A warrant of seizure and detention was already recommended against the shipment.
Following the directive of President Duterte, the Customs bureau has been destroying seized luxury vehicles to keep smugglers from getting their illegally imported cars back through bidding.
A series of condemnation of luxury cars was even televised last year to warn smugglers.