PASG raid nets P100-M smuggled goods

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) raided warehouses in Tondo, Manila yesterday and allegedly seized P100 million worth of contraband items and arrested 22 Chinese nationals who reportedly acted as caretakers.

Two of the warehouses contained smuggled chemicals, agricultural produce, electronic items, toys, digital video disc players, sleepers, ready to wear clothes, towels, blankets and hardware.

PASG official Edmund Arugay said the items will be inventoried on Monday and remain in the storage area.

In a statement, the PASG said they confiscated the items from warehouses in a compound owned by Ran Property and Management at the corner of Antonio Rivera and Bambang streets.

“I gave the owners of the contraband 72 hours to present proper documents to prove that their goods are not smuggled,” PASG head Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said.

The Chinese nationals, who failed to produce proper travel documents, will be brought to the Bureau of Immigration.

According to the PASG, its team members did not find any bill of lading, packing list, corresponding entries, gate pass and customs receipts – all necessary documents for importing goods.

The PASG also reportedly found food items, which were not covered by any clearance from the Bureau of Food and Drugs, certificate of product registration, accreditation from the Bureau of Product Standards, import permit from the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the National Food Authority. The items also have to be covered by an International Compliance Certificate.