Three importers of used clothing or “ukay-ukay” and kitchen wares are now facing smuggling charges for misdeclaring their shipments that arrived in the country last year.
Through the Customs Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), criminal cases were filed against the importers before the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Jan. 18 and 22.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the latest complaints had brought to 112 the cases filed before DoJ against importers and Customs brokers under his term.
According to the bureau, Akiza One Six Eight Eight Eight Trading was charged for alleged unlawful importation and misdeclaration of 100 sacks of used clothing, 450 sacks and 150 cartons of mixed fabrics and swatches.
Instead of declaring the items, the consignee declared its shipment as used surplus furniture and kitchenware last October. The shipment was seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Summer Beast Enterprises Co. was also charged for alleged illegal importation and misdeclaration of 539 bales of used clothing and other goods such as inkjet glossy paper, yoga mat, wearing apparel, phone holder, various foodstuff, air purifier, various cellphone accessories, cellphones, USB, vape, medicines, medical supplies, personal effects, and antennas.
According to BATAS, the importer declared its shipment as Xueya brand paper products, Blue King brand LED light strip, Medial brand yoga mat, Wellone Brand wearing apparel, and Topo brand phone holder. The shipment was also seized last October also at the MICP.
GT Enterprise was likewise charged for the alleged smuggling of five shipments declared as 6,060 cartons of ceramic kitchenware but found loaded with 9,102 cartons of Banma mosquito coils, 218 cartons of kitchen wares, dinnerware, and 50 pieces Banma mosquito empty cartons. The shipments were intercepted last August at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.
The bureau said the consignees and their respective licensed Customs brokers “purportedly committed various violations” of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
They also violated Republic Act No. 4653 otherwise known as “An Act 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”; Department of Health (DoH) Administrative Order No. 2014-0038 or the Rules and Regulations Governing Household/Urban Pesticides Licensing of Establishments and Operators, Registration of Their Products and for Other Purpose; and Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
Guerrero reiterated that rampant misdeclaration of goods defrauds the government of its rightful revenues, adding that the importation of prohibited goods such as used clothing could pose harm when exposed to the general public.