P200-M fake designer goods, pirated discs seized

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Optical Media Board (OMB) raided a warehouse at the boundary of Pasay and Parañaque cities yesterday afternoon, seizing fake designer clothes, watches, and pirated digital video discs (DVDs) with an approximate street value of P200 million.

The raiding team confiscated fake Levi’s jeans, Lacoste t-shirts, sunglasses, as well as Rolex, Rado, Seiko, and Omega watch imitations.

They also found thousands of pirated DVDs inside the warehouse of Jamen Forwarders at the Sam Court Compound in Sun Valley Subdivision.

BOC and OMB personnel also seized boxes of allegedly fake Viagra pills, said to pose health risks to users who believe the pills will boost their sexual performance.

The items were allegedly smuggled into the country from China and other Asian countries where fake designer clothes and items are supposedly manufactured.

The BOC and the OMB are preparing to file charges against a certain Vicente Maneja, who rented the place allegedly in behalf of Chinese businessmen.

BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales said yesterday’s operation can be considered as a big accomplishment for his office and the OMB.

“OMB Chairman Edu Manzano said they seized one million DVDs last year, but this is three times bigger,” he told The STAR.

Vernie Enciso, BOC’s special assistant to the commissioner, said the BOC and the OMB was assisted by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Enciso said the pirated DVDs will be turned over to the custody of the OMB for destruction while they dispose of the rest.

“Usually (for) counterfeit goods, (we need to) get permission from the label owner to turn over the items to the (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to turn them into relief goods,” he said.

Parañaque City police chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles clarified that Jamen Forwarders is located in Pasay and not in Parañaque, based on boundary lines.