Customs chief cracks down on reefer vans

Customs Commissioner George Jercos ordered a 100-percent examination yesterday of all arriving reefer vans at all major ports in a determined bid to curb technical smuggling.

In a Customs special order addressed to all major ports with reefer facilities, Jereos also directed that a composite team be created at each port conduct the physical examination on the said shipments.

Jereos said that the 100-percent examination of all reefer vans is one of the major steps he is initiating to stop technical smuggling which costs the government billions of pesos in lost revenues yearly.

The reefer van examination followed an earlier order to open for physical examination all other shipments suspected to contain highly durable goods not included in the declared items.

The Customs chief disclosed that the apprehension of several shipments in the recent past showed that they contain banned items concealed inside the container vans or that the goods were grossly undervalued.

It was learned that technical smuggling prospered either because the declarations of the importers on their shipments were accepted without question or that some Customs people conspired with the importers to cheat on the government.

The composite team, according to Jereos, will be tasked to coordinate and witness the 100-percent examination of all reefer containers together with the assigned examiners and in the presence of the importer or importers or their representatives.

The team will also coordinate with the concerned government agencies in verifying the required documents such as import permits and shall see to it that the importer complies with other government issuances.

The task is also required to submit reports and recommendations to the deputy commissioner for Intelligence and Enforcement Group and the district collector on the result of the said examination conducted.