Fake watches turned over to Bureau of Customs

CEBU, Philippines - The Coast Guard Station Cebu turned over the close to a million peso worth of suspected smuggled watches to the Bureau of Customs last April 4.

Intelligence Officer 1 Arneth Von Manquiquis, assistant OIC of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Intelligence Division of the Port of Cebu, said that these items were confiscated in violation of Section 3601 or unlawful importation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

CIIS agents Constancio Ecarma and Jose Noel Torrecampo, in their report to CIIIS-ID OIC Rico Rey Francis Holganza, stated that initial inspection conducted by CCG authorities on the baggage of passenger Sanjay Kalar revealed these contained assorted men’s and ladies’ wristwatches of various brands.

Kalar, a Pakistani national, was on board Super Ferry 12 and arrived in Cebu from Cagayan de Oro City last April 3.

“The owner failed to show pertinent documents,” the report reads.

Coast Guard Station Cebu Commander Rolando Punzalan in his turnover of confiscated items report to BOC district commander Ronnie Silvestre, stated several branded names of wristwatches like Rado, Seiko and Citizen

Aside from the wristwatches, assorted boxes of watch batteries and toy watches were also confiscated.

There were a total of 1,795 wristwatches, 1,434 toy watches and 2,000 pieces of assorted boxes of watch batteries. All these items has an estimated value of P937,025.00. — (FREEMAN)