Cash reward up for info on smuggled Bugatti cars

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs is offering cash rewards to informants who can help the BOC in locating two illegally imported Bugatti Chiron cars valued at more than $6 million or P330 million.

The cash reward is equivalent to 20 percent of the actual revenue to be collected from the sale of the smuggled vehicles, according to the BOC.

Authorities have issued a warrant of seizure and detention for the luxury cars for lack of importation documents.

The BOC said the Bugatti Chiron cars model 2023 have been spotted in Muntinlupa, Pasig, Pasay and Cavite.

The cars – a blue unit with license plate NIM 5448, and red with plate NIM 5450 – are reportedly registered to Menguin Zhu and Thu Thrang Nguyen.

“We received information in November last year about the entry of these vehicles without going through regular customs clearance. These cars were also being openly advertised in online markets and social media sites,” BOC Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said.

Uy said the revenue-collecting agency’s Management Information System Technical Group earlier confirmed that the Bugatti cars do not have import documents.

Informants may report sightings of the smuggled sports cars through the BOC Cares portal.

The owners of the vehicles are facing criminal complaints for misdeclaration, misclassification or undervaluation of goods if they fail to present importation documents, the BOC said.