Customs agents have seized P350-million worth of used clothing and counterfeit products in an operation at a warehouse in Marilao,
Bulacan.
The men from the Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS) raided the facility
situated at Philippine Asia Pacific Realty Compound on Villarica Road in Sta. Rosa, Marilao based on the Letter of Authority (LOA) signed and issued by Commissioner Bien Rubio.
The MICP-CIIS agents led by chief intelligence officer Alvin Enciso conducted the operation with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard,
the local police, and barangay officials in the area.
“The team inspected the warehouses and found them to contain ukay-ukay, mosquito coils, IPR-infringing goods, and other smuggled
goods,” said Commissioner Rubio.
Under Republic Act 4653, the importation of “ukay-ukay” (used clothes) is banned to protect the health of the Filipinos and to preserve
Filipino dignity.
Enciso, on his part, said goods they discovered inside the warehouses would amount to more or less P350 million. He added the seized items
came from China.
”Several warehouses were found to contain smuggled goods after we served the LOA to the warehouse admin and respective warehouse
representatives,” he said.
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said that the warehouses have been sealed and the team temporarily placed padlocks.
“Ongoing inspection is being conducted on the subject warehouses. This is to be followed by an inventory of the goods, which would be
conducted by our assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by CIIS and the Enforcement Security Service agents,” he added.
Last Tuesday, the MICP-CIIS men also intercepted P34.5-million worth of smuggled shipment of sugar from Hong Kong
The spot-check examination of five containers on July 11 yielded more or less P17,250,000 worth of Thailand refined sugar.
Another examination is scheduled for five more containers, which would more or less contain another P17,250,000 worth of the smuggled
agricultural product.
The containers were consigned to Smile Agri Ventures Inc. and arrived at the MICP on May 27, 2023, with 100,000 kilograms of silica sand in
the declaration for each container.