A brand new motor grader that was supposed to value more than P2 million was seized at the Port of Cebu after it was misdeclared as used equipment, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Thursday, Aug. 26.
Instead of the pre-declared items --used motor grader and parts-- a brand new version of the equipment was found in a shipment from China.
It was consigned to VRB Construction Supply and was later found to have a value of P2,267,550.
According to the bureau, the shipment arrived at the port on Aug. 17, 2021 and was discovered to be misdeclared last Aug. 20.
Due to the inconsistency in the declaration details and x-ray images, Customs examiners conducted a 100 percent physical examination on the shipment.
Acting District Collector Charlito Martin R. Mendoza has already issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment after finding probable cause for misdeclaration, in violation of Section 1113 (F), (I), and (L-3,4, & 5) in relation to Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“Time and again, we remind the importers to properly declare their goods. The port employs several layers of examination, from profiling, document-checking, x-ray scanning, to physical examination to ensure that the correct amount of duties and taxes are collected," Mendoza said.
"We will not hesitate in issuing a warrant of seizure and detention for importations whose declarations vary from their actual contents,” he added.
The seized shipment will be under seizure and forfeiture proceedings in accordance with established rules and regulations.