P25-M ‘hot’ sugar, clothes seized

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently confiscated some P25 million worth of smuggled used clothing and sugar at Manila International Container Port.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the Intelligence and Enforcement Group, led by BOC Deputy Commissioner Celso Templo, seized the shipments after they were found to be misdeclared.

Morales said the shipments of imported used clothing – a prohibited import product – were misdeclared as wearing apparel, carton outsoles, carton bags and gift items.

The shipments, which came from Hong Kong, were consigned to Low Cost Integrated Marketing and R.F. Crisostomo Trading.

The imported sugar, on the other hand, arrived in five container vans at MICP from Thailand last month. The P3-million shipment was consigned to Bagwa Trading.

Morales said all firms linked to the shipments will be placed under the agency’s blacklist for their involvement in the foiled smuggling. He added that criminal charges will also be filed against them for violation of the customs code.