Government agents took possession of four luxury yachts valued at P120 million at the Manila North Harbor.
The sailboats—Le Boss, Yuzhen 8, Yua Hal Ming Zhu, and Gu Cheng Gang Guan—are now in the custody of the Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.
MICP-CIIS chief Alvin Enciso said the seizure, which was made in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, is in line with the bureau’s commitment to intensify border security and anti-smuggling campaign.
Enciso said the yachts were being rented commercially for transport and private events “without the necessary conversion of papers for local use, as well as the payment of proper duties and taxes.”
“We got the WSD (Warrant of Seizure and Detention) last Friday, so we brought the yachts to Pier 13 immediately for safety and security,” he said.
“Our mandate at the MICP is to protect all borders from smuggling operations. That also includes monitoring private piers for illegal activities such as these,” he added.
The yachts should be imported following Philippine Customs laws and registered to Philippine authorities such as the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority for water vessels.
MICP District Collector Romeo Allan Rosales issued the WSD in accordance with Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The authorities came up with the operation following information about four yachts at Private Pier 18 of the Manila International Container Terminal.
They found Filipino crew members, all claiming to be from Boracay island, onboard the yachts. They were Angelo Casimero, boat captain of Yua Hal Ming Zhu, and Jerryco Magno, boat captain of Le Boss. Other crew members are named Rio Mar Hormillosa, Albert Casimero, Christian Joy Blancaflor, and Banadicto Calinyao.
“Upon inspection and inquiry into the master, the motor yachts were found to have no pertinent papers onboard,” Enciso said.
Amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Customs bureau under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is pursuing its mission of cleansing the country’s borders of smuggling and other illegal activities.
Guerrero said “Some people are taking advantage of the pandemic to get through our borders illegally. We will not allow that. It takes the whole bureau and its partners to stop these activities from flourishing.”
“It’s more important than ever to secure our borders and not let illegal products operate without the proper documentation. Despite the pandemic, we are focused on stopping these illegal activities to happen under our noses. This is not the first and it will not be the last these people see of us,” he added.