BOC seizes P24 billion smuggled goods in H1

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated P24 billion worth of smuggled goods from January to June as the entry of illegal items into the country remains a problem.

In a report, the BOC said the total value of smuggled goods seized by the agency reached P23.851 billion in the first half.

This is part of the 603 anti-smuggling operation seizures conducted during the six-month period.

From January to June, illegal items caught by the BOC included counterfeit goods, agricultural commodities, tobacco products, illegal drugs and general merchandise.

Among the notable seizures during the period include the P1.4 billion worth of imported cigarettes in Sulu, P86 million worth of misdeclared sugar from Hong Kong in Subic Port, and P3.8 million worth of shabu at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport DHL Express Warehouse.

Further, the fuel marking program marked 9.42 billion liters of fuel equivalent to P114.53 billion in duties and taxes that helped combat illicit fuel trade.

Fuel marking, which involves injecting chemical identifiers into tax-paid oil products, is being carried out under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law to curb smuggling of petroleum products.

The BOC, alongside the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), uses a chemical identifier to determine whether a fuel bundle complied with the corresponding taxes.

If a fuel contains less than 95 percent of the marker, its owner will be directed to pay the duties first and then settle the penalties.

Petroleum products that are unmarked, with diluted markers, or have counterfeit fuel markers shall be subject to duties and taxes, inclusive of the appropriate fines and penalties.

The BOC looks into the shipments of fuel traders, while the BIR monitors the output of local refiners.

During the six-month period, the BOC also took strict action against Customs law violators, revoking the accreditation of 33 Customs brokers and 85 importers.

Additionally, 74 criminal complaints were filed with the Department of Justice and two administrative complaints were filed with the Professional Regulation Commission.