BOC seizes ‘hot’ sports car

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized a sports car and other goods allegedly smuggled through two ports in Manila, an official said yesterday.

The sports car, a 2012 model McLaren MP4-12C valued at around P45 million, was presented by BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon during a press conference yesterday.

He said in a statement that the car, reportedly smuggled from the United States, is consigned to Edgardo Reyes. The BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agents seized the car as it arrived at the Port of Manila. The car is being kept in a warehouse at the port, Biazon said.

At the Manila International Container Port, the BOC seized two shipping containers filled with 3,598 sets of aluminum window frames for allegedly being misdeclared and grossly underevaluated. The shipment, valued at P14 million, reportedly came from China and was consigned to Chariot Enterprises.

Agents also confiscated 220 boxes of the health product Optimax Delite, worth P20 million, that arrived from Singapore and was consigned to BWL Health and Sciences Inc.

The BOC seized a shipping container of used tires, worth P1 million, from Japan. It was reportedly consigned to Honkawa Sangyo Phils., Inc.

CIIS director Fernandino Tuason said the confiscated goods would be put on the auction block to generate additional revenue for the government.