28 luxury vehicles are now under Bureau of Customs custody, following a major operation against the Descaya family. (BOC photo)
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Thursday, Sept. 4, that 28 luxury vehicles linked to the Discaya family are now in its custody, following a court-ordered search and subsequent voluntary surrender.
In a statement, BOC said the agency initially secured 12 vehicles through a search warrant served at the St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corp. compound in Pasig City.
The Discaya family then surrendered an additional 16 vehicles, bringing the total number of vehicles under Customs' control to 28.
According to the BOC, the additional 16 vehicles are now undergoing processing for sealing and documentation and will be guarded by Customs personnel.
The 16 luxury cars include Mercedez Benz GLE, Land Rover Range Rover LWB, Land Rover Defender, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Ford Bronco, Mercedez Benz GLS 350, BMW X5 30D, Jaguar F-Pace 2.0D, Porsche Cayenne V6, Volvo XC90, Mercedez Benz Avant, LAND Rover Range Rover Evo-F, Mercedez Benz Sprinter, ATV Quicksand, and Yukon Denali, ATV Gray.
The BOC noted it will continue its investigation with the help of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to verify importation records and assess the duties and taxes on all 28 vehicles.
“We are committed to combat smuggling, protect government revenues, and ensure accountability through lawful customs processes,” the BOC said.
The agency added that it is working to ensure that proper documentation and payments for the vehicles are in order.
The surrender of the 16 vehicles by the Discaya family followed the court-ordered seizure of the first 12, which were secured on Sept. 2.