Misdeclared as shampoo
SOME P6.5 million worth of luxury bags and shoes misdeclared as “shampoo” were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs-NAIA.
BOC-NAIA District Collector Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan, seized the misdeclared luxury goods which were found to be in commercial quantity and included branded handbags such as Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, Valentino and shoes and other accessories.
Talusan said that based on records, the shipment was consigned to a certain Reynaldo Tan in Paircargo Warehouse and were misdeclared as personal effects, particularly as ‘assorted clothes and shampoo’ from Maisons-Alfort, France.
The misdeclaration is an apparent attempt to evade the payment of correct duties and taxes through the use of falsified/spurious documents and circumvent the duty and tax free privileges afforded to balikbayan boxes, Talusan said.
The 100 percent physical examination of the subject shipment confirmed that it actually consisted of luxury bags, shoes, sandals, shirts and accessories in commercial quantity (157 pieces), she added.
Talusan said the shipment will be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings in violation of Section 1400 in relation to Section 1113 of the CMTA.
Likewise, in compliance with the standing directives of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero to prosecute smugglers, records and details of the said apprehension shall be referred to the Bureau Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) for case profiling and buildup against the personalities involved in the foiled smuggling of misdeclared luxury items in commercial quantities, Talusan added.
