BOC SEIZES LUXURY VEHICLES WORTH P1.4B IN PASAY CITY, PARAÑAQUE

SOME P1.4 billion worth of imported luxury vehicles, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maybach, and Maserati, on Thursday were seized by operatives of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in warehouses located in Pasay City and Parañaque City.

The BOC-CIIS received photos of allegedly smuggled luxury vehicles being sold online from its sources and was instructed to take appropriate action to verify the legitimacy of
its importation and ascertain whether correct duties and taxes due thereon were actually duly paid.

The BOC identified the sellers as AC Che Gong Miao in Pasay City and TopCar Specialist and Trading Corp. in Parañaque City.

“This operation signals a new approach in the BOC’s operational strategies in going after smugglers and ensuring collection of rightful revenues due the government,” BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said.

“It sends a message to all importers who think they’re already safe after their products have entered Philippine territory thru illegal forms and means. We want them to know that we have eyes everywhere. We are not stopping, and we are not slowing down. We’re always one step ahead of them,”  Rubio added.

CIIS Director Verne Enciso confirmed that luxury vehicles were found in the locations when the BOC-CIIS team arrived at AC Che Gong Miao and TopCar Specialist and Trading Inc. and served the Letters of Authority (LOAs) and Mission Orders (MOs) to the representatives.

“When we received the tip about these vehicles early this month, we immediately verified the information and processed the issuance of the appropriate orders to conduct the operation,” Enciso said.

He said that some of the brands found at AC Che Gong Miao in Pasay City were units of Ferrari LaFerrari, Lamborghini McLaren, Maserati, Rolls Royce, Mercedez Benz, Maybach, Range Rover, Bentley, Alphard, and Jeep Wrangler.

At the TopCar Specialist and Trading Inc. in Parañaque City, the team found Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Ferrari SF90 Stradale and Mansory, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Maybach, and BMW.

The total estimated value of the vehicles is around  P1.4 billion, though a final list will be released after inventory.

Even as he commended his team, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy was resolute in saying that they need to do more to ensure strict compliance with customs laws, rules and regulations, and collection of rightful duties and taxes due the government.

The team sealed the warehouse doors and assigned duty personnel to secure the premises.

The owners, lessees, lessors, occupants, representatives, or any parties responsible for the warehouses were given 15 days from the receipt of the LOAs to submit the necessary documents proving that duties and taxes were paid correctly.

If found without proper documents, they will face charges in violation of Sections 1400, 1401 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The BOC vows to remain vigilant against any and all types of smuggling activities as it exercises its mandate in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign.