Fake goods remain Philippines top smuggled item

MANILA, Philippines — Counterfeit goods remain to be the country’s top smuggled items as the entry of fake products continues despite strengthened law enforcement.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the total value of smuggled goods seized by the agency have reached a record high of P42.5 billion from January to Dec. 1, wherein 825 operations were carried out.

“This is the highest that the BOC seized and we still have about a month left before the year ends,” Rubio told journalists yesterday.

“This (seizure) is double from the over P20 billion recorded in the same period last year. We attribute this to stricter law enforcement,” he said.

Data showed that counterfeit goods topped the list of smuggled items valued at P24.36 billion.

The proliferation of counterfeit goods affects the economy as legitimate brands invest their capital in the country to do business and provide jobs.

Such illegal activity could discourage investors from pouring resources into the country.

Currently, the BOC is facing two major challenges in dealing with counterfeit goods.

These are the expeditious facilitation of trade through brand certification and verification by brand owners, and the emergence of e-commerce as a contributor to counterfeiting.

Next on the list is illegal drugs from nearly 100 seizures amounting to P7.58 billion, followed by agricultural products with P3.78 billion, and cigarettes and tobacco, P3.77 billion.

Other illegal items seized by the BOC are general merchandise, fuel, vehicles, used clothing, steel products, electronics, firearms, wildlife and natural resources, alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, cosmetics, jewelry, chemicals and currencies.