Anti-smuggling drive posts record numbers in July

MANILA, Philippines - The National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (IPOPHL) Director General Ric Blancaflor has announced record breaking numbers with a total of almost P5.3 billion worth of fake and smuggled goods seized in the first half of the year.

This reflects a 94.73-percent increase or almost double the amount of seizures made in the same period last year.

Blancaflor paid tribute to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and Port of Manila district collector Rogel Gatchalian for their active support in the intensified anti-counterfeit and anti-smuggling campaign.

Based on warrants of seizure issued by Gatchalian in July 2013, the joint NBI-IPO-Customs enforcement operations seized a total of P1.43 billion worth of goods, through a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) by Gatchalian, the highest in a month in the history of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights.

“The support of Biazon and Gatchalian was crucial in helping our agency attain this remarkable achievement,” said DG Blancafor.

“The WSD issued by Gatchalian was crucial for IPOPHL because the counterfeit items were also illegally imported and smuggled into the country,” Blancaflor said.  Gatchalian emerged as the top grosser among all the BOC district collectors in terms of the amount of seizure of smuggled counterfeit items. Among the articles that were seized are various brands of assorted designer watches, assorted designer bags, android cellular phones, designer shirts and jeans, footwear, medicines, and other electronic devices almost all of which were smuggled into the country.