Behind a pile of used car parts inside a container van that arrived from Japan was a white Porsche 911 GT3 RS in what officials described as another smuggling attempt of luxury vehicles into the country, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 8.
And it would have not been detected had it not to the intelligence information passed by the Sasa Police Station in Davao City to the BOC, according to Port of Davao District Collector Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria.
"As soon as we received the intelligence information, we immediately issued an alert order against the shipment," Austria said.
The shipment was declared as used automobile parts that arrived from Japan on Aug. 31. It was consigned to JJCTD Import and Export Trading Corp.
Austria said the estimated value of the seized luxury vehicle is P15,308,486.14.
"During the opening of the container, its front content showed various used automobile parts. However, the said automobile parts were used to conceal one unit of white Porsche 911 GT3 RS," said Austria.
Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was also tapped to inspect the container van for possible smuggling of illegal drugs but it yielded negative.
A Warrant of Seizure and Detention has been issued against the shipment for violation of Section 1400 concerning Section 1113 of R.A. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).