A composite group led by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated at least P10 billion worth of counterfeit branded bags, shoes and other products when they swooped down on a storage facility in Binondo, Manila.
Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Task Force Aduana of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raided the storage facility after receiving information about the Binondo warehouse.
Authorities found imported clothing apparel, shoes, general merchandise, kitchenwares, electronics, and beauty products upon the inspection of the warehouse.
The BOC said these items counterfeited such trademarks as Nike, Coach, Adidas, Guess, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Gucci, among others.
“Our BOC officials used all available resources and tools to thwart this attempt to enter such a huge amount of counterfeit items into our market. Imagine what this could do to our local producers and the foreign brands that invest in us,” Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy said.
Customs examiners will undertake an inventory of the commodities, which will be observed by CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service personnel.
The proprietors of the products would be required to provide importation documentation or proof of payment, according to the BOC.
If found without proper documents, seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the shipments for violation of Section 1400 (Misdeclaration, Misclassification, Undervaluation in Goods Declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure and Forfeiture) of Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The operation was also in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police, and the Task Force Aduana of the Philippine Coast Guard