4 charged with smuggling P60-M used clothes

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed smuggling charges yesterday against four persons for allegedly smuggling a total of P60 million worth of used clothes from Hong Kong.

The charges against Farold International owner Jessie Carlos Dionisio; his brokers, Jeff Eyros Juta and Nikov Ashley Vista; and Great Circles Trading owner Luisa Villa Pascual were filed with the Department of Justice.

The BOC said Farold’s seven 40-footer shipping containers of used clothing, worth P52.5 million, arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last July. The shipment was misdeclared as tools.

Great Circles reportedly misdeclared as toys and merchandise a 40-footer shipping container of used clothing, worth P7.5 million, that arrived at the MICP last June.

BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon said there is a ban on the importation of used clothing for health and safety reasons.