BOC seizes P7.3 billion counterfeit products

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs confiscated P7.3 billion worth of assorted counterfeit products during simultaneous raids on several warehouses in Caloocan City and Bocaue, Bulacan on March 20, the BOC reported yesterday.

“The smuggled items cover almost everything we use in our daily lives – from fashion to hardware items. At the core of our mission is the protection of Filipinos and ensuring the safety of imported goods, so it is necessary for our agency to stop these items from hitting the shelves and victimizing people,” BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said.

The operation at a compound in Caloocan resulted in the discovery of 3,500 bundles of counterfeit branded underwear and socks valued at P4.3 billion while other warehouses yielded fake items with a street value of P70 million, the BOC said.

From the warehouses in Bulacan, the BOC discovered counterfeit products valued at P3 billion.

The warehouses were padlocked and sealed pending the inventory of goods to be conducted by the assigned Customs examiner.

The owners of the goods would be asked to present importation documents or proof of payment by the BOC.

If found without proper documents, seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the shipments for violation of Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.