Smugglers’ new modus operandi uncovered in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Task Force Subic has uncovered what it said is a new modus operandi of smugglers to bring highly taxable goods out of the Subic Freeport.

Retired Gen. Jose Calimlim, head of Task Force Subic, said smugglers have been using "invisible hands" by registering fictitious individuals and companies, with fake addresses, as consignees of shipments.

This modus operandi was further bolstered with the recent apprehension of a shipment of six imported racing cars worth P5 million.

The seized vehicles were carefully concealed inside three 60-foot container vans that came from Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

The vehicles included a fully modified Honda racing car, new models of Toyota Lucida and Emina, a Kia Carnival and a Hyundai Sonata Sedan.

"The task force was able to confiscate yesterday five imported luxury vehicles which were declared second-hand utility vehicles. The identities of the consignees remain a mystery," Calimlim also told The STAR.

Calimlim said the new modus operandi was uncovered after the names and addresses of the consignees were all found to be fictitious.

"They (smugglers) cannot fool the law. We have ways to uncover whatever illegal schemes they would do to deceive and deprive the government of millions of pesos in revenues," he said.

Calimlim, meanwhile, said the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board has approved a resolution subjecting all confiscated imported goods to forfeiture proceedings in favor of the SBMA.

These goods, he said, will be offered in public auctions.

"The auction proceedings will be in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion Law that created the Subic Bay Freeport," said Calimlim, also the concurrent SBMA senior deputy administrator for operations.

He said the auctions would raise additional revenues for the SBMA and would ensure the proper valuation of goods, including "hot items’ like imported liquors and cigarettes.

He said misdeclaration has been a common practice used in technical smuggling to drastically reduce the actual assessment of Customs duties and taxes "by about 80 to 90 percent."

Calimlim said the task force is also looking into the possible "transshipment" of imported goods from the Subic Freeport to other special economic zones and industrial estates under the control of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

He cited the recent confiscation of truckloads of used clothing or ukay-ukay in San Fernando, Pampanga.

He said the shipment was supposedly intended for the Clark special economic zone but was allegedly diverted to other destinations in Central Luzon.