Customs seizes smuggled Chinese ship

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs-Port of Manila (BOC-POM) served a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) Friday against a Chinese vessel that was allegedly smuggled into the country and is docked at the Port of Masinloc in Zambales.

BOC deputy commissioner for enforcement Horacio Suansing Jr. said their acting district collector at the POM, Arnel Alcaraz, signed a WSD last Thursday for the vessel Hai Sheng 789. The Port of Masinloc is under the jurisdiction of the POM. The warrant was served the next day.

Suansing said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been securing the vessel since June 24. The consignee, Bucao Mineral Resources Mining and Development Corp. (BMRMDC), a mining firm based in Zambales, reportedly failed to pay about P1 million in duties and taxes and thus forfeited the ship in favor of the government.

The vessel Hai Sheng 789, a 2007 model, was supposed to have been used for dredging activities.

Suansing said the BOC expects to earn P7 million from the sale of the ship.

“The auction proceedings would not take long. It would only need two hearings before it is auctioned off,” he said.

Suansing said they are checking whether other people are involved in the importation of the ship, and its point of entry when it was brought into the country. – Evelyn Macairan