By: Charina Echaluce
Customs authorities seized Monday afternoon some P3-billion smuggled counterfeit cosmetic products, perfumes, and other merchandise in Tondo, Manila.
Operatives of the Bureau of Customs’ (BoC’s) Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) confiscated hundreds of boxes of counterfeit goods inside units 8-A, 10-A, 10-B, 18-C, and 18-D at Vicente Tower at 1275 Dagupan Street, Tondo.
Customs Chief Isidro Lapena said the BoC agents raided the place three weeks after they conducted investigation and surveillance operations.
A certain Justine Lim was identified as the owner of the unit and the counterfeit goods.
Personnel of BoC Intellectual Property Rights Division found out that the goods originated from China. The alleged owner of the raided units was not in the premises during the raid.
Counterfeit goods are classified as prohibited under the Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.