Case readied vs 8 Chinese nationals

The Bureau of Customs is now building a tight case against eight Chinese nationals believed to be behind the smuggling of P20 million worth of electronic machines used to produce pirated compact discs in Valenzuela City.

Shortly after his appointment last week, Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernardo has ordered Customs operatives to intensify the government’s campaign against smuggling. In the raid in Valenzuela City, government agents rounded up Jhon Sy Tan, Wen Kai Zheng, Chin Gua Liu, Sheng Yang, Ren Hai Ho, Cai Zhi Ying (a.k.a. Jason Wong Chua), Kun Hong Chim (a.k.a. Chin Kum Hong and Peter Tan Sy), and Monica Chua. They are all detained at the detention cell of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.

Customs collector Jaime Maglipon said charges of illegal reproduction of video (CDs and VCDs) were filed with the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office against the eight foreigners. Maglipon said the BOC received information that the eight suspects were engaged in the smuggling of VCDs, in violation of the Tariff Code. With the help of the National Bureau of Investigation, Maglipon said a raid was conducted at the house located at 6 Isidro Francisco st., Barrio Maysan, Valenzuela City. Authorities also raided the house at 12 Java st. Heron Townhomes, Karuhatan also in Valenzuela City.

Confiscated were two replicating machines, 17 boxes containing 900 CDs each, and materials used in making VCDs and CDs, as well as 14 boxes of pornographic VCDs.

Authorities expressed belief that the unchecked smuggling of replicating machines further aggravated the worsening problem on piracy.