Smuggling of fake DVD machines foiled

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) foiled an attempt to smuggle an estimated P100 million worth of replicating machines that could be used to manufacture pirated video and compact discs.

BOC-X-Ray Inspection Project (XIP) head Lourdes Mangaoang yesterday said they were informed that six 40-foot container vans carrying replicating machines arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last May 7, but documents declared the shipment as assorted system rack mounts and computers.

The BOC-XIP saw the discrepancy between the contents and the supporting documents and immediately issued an alert order for the cargo.

“During the x-ray inspection, it was positive to contain replicating machines. But we still do not know how many pieces of replicating machines are inside the container vans. We also don’t know the type and model of these machines so the P100-million value is still a rough estimate. The full viewing of the shipment would be done this coming week,” Mangaoang said.

The container vans were reportedly about to be delivered to the consignee, Kintetsu World Express, with address at N 7170-A Elmore Street, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

The importer of the optical media manufacturing materials was Info Bright Technologies Co. Ltd. located at Flat 2 2/f, Festigood Centre, 8 Lok Yip Road, On Lok Tsuen, Fanling, N.T. Hong Kong.

A check with Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman and chief executive officer Eduardo Manzano further revealed that the application of Info Bright Technologies had been denied because it violated Section 15 (a) of Republic Act 9239, otherwise known as the Optical Media Act of 2003.

“In this regard, we would like to request your good commission to reject the entry of the said containers as the same is illegal for lack of license and import permit from our agency,” Manzano said in a letter.

The OMB has also coordinated with Ben Ho, senior superintendent of the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau of the Hong Kong Customs, to get information about Info Bright Technologies and its president, Suen Yun Mun.