P15-M smuggled items seized in Manila

BY BETHEENA UNITE

Authorities uncovered recently some P15 million worth of alleged smuggled items in a warehouse in Paco, Manila.

Chinese-manufactured cigarettes, food items, medicines, liquors, mobile phones, cellphone accessories, and powerbanks were discovered in a storage facility in Paco last February 4.

The supposed hot goods were seized after a team from the Manila International Container Port Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, and the Philippine Coast Guard raided the place through a letter of authority signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.

Guerrero said further inventory and investigation are under way for possible filing of charges in connection with Section 1400 of Republic Act (RA)10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The seized cigarettes lacked permit from the National Tobacco Administration – a violation of Executive Order 245 and RA 8424, also known as the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines.

No one was arrested the inspection. (Betheena Unite)