32 smuggled cars worth P10M seized

Customs authorities in Cebu yesterday seized 32 assorted smuggled vehicles from South Korea and Japan valued at some P10 million.

The seizure of the brand new and surplus Korean and Japanese made vehicles came on the heels of an ongoing investigation by the House committee on good government into alleged rampant car smuggling in the port of Cebu.

Customs commissioner Napoleon Morales and Cebu district collector Ricardo Belmonte led the opening of eight 40-foot abandoned container vans at the Cebu International Port.

The four brand new vehicles in the lot were three Hyundai Grand Starex vans and one Hyundai Sta Fe SUV consigned to a certain RCY Trading in Mandaue City.

The other vehicles include 12 Kia Grand Sportage, five Hyundai Gallopers, a Honda CRV, a Mitsubishi Pajero, one Honda Civic, an Isuzu Big Horn, three Hyundai Accents and four Kia Sportages.

All the consignees, RCY Trading, Trex Eve Auto also with address in Mandaue City, and OSSJ Surplus in Buyong, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City, declared the shipment as used truck replacement parts. However, x-ray inspections showed the shipments to be otherwise.

It is standard operating procedure at the Bureau of Customs to have all shipments declared as used truck replacement parts placed under red status and subject to x-ray scanning.

Morales said charges of violating Customs and Tariff laws will be filed against the consignees and ordered the cancellation of their accreditation as importers. — Fred P. Languido/JST