P30 million electronic items seized in BOC, CIDG raid
GOVERNMENT agents led by operatives from the Intelligence Group of the Bureau of Customs swooped down at an industrial park in Guiguinto, Bulacan and seized smuggled flat screen ‘smart’ television sets including machines for their production worth more than P30 million.
Joel Pinawin, Port of Manila (POM) intelligence chief, in his initial report to Customs Intelligence Service (CIIS) director, Verne Enciso and Intelligence Group (IG) Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, said the operation took place last March 21, 2023, at a warehouse inside the RIS Industrial Complex along Mercado St. in Guiguinto.
Armed with a ‘LOA’ (Letter of Authority) signed by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, the implementing team consisted of elements from the CIIS headed by Pinawin, Customs Police (ESS) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Philippine National Police (CIDG-PNP), with further assistance provided by the bureau’s Legal Service, Revenue Collection Monitoring Group (RCMG) under Deputy Commissioner Atty. Edward James Dy Buco.
On inspection, Pinawin said they found assorted flat screen television sets of different sizes, two ‘lamination machines’ used to assemble the televisions, boxes for packaging and raw materials for reconditioning and repair. He added the serving of the LOA was acknowledged by employees they found at the premises.
The initial estimate placed the value of the merchandize at P30 million, with the two laminating machines alone valued at P10 million apiece.
An initial perusal of the available shipping documents disclosed they were simply declared as ‘television parts’ when they were brought into the country, Pinawin added.
After the conduct of inventory, the implementing team temporarily secured the storage facility with BOC seals aside from posting 24/7 duty detail at the entrance and exit gates of the subject warehouse to prevent pilferage and theft.
As a matter of procedure, the owner/s of the facility, who were not identified, would be given sufficient time to prove the importations were legal.
In their absence, a forfeiture proceeding would commence that would result to the items found being confiscated in favor of the government.
