MANILA – Customs authorities have seized over PHP50 billion worth of smuggled items from January to August this year.
The contraband included more than PHP1 billion worth of smuggled tobacco and vape products, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Assistant Commissioner and spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday.
“Iyong mga motor parts po, kasama po siya doon sa mga items na nahuhuli namin (The items that we seized also include motor parts)," Maronilla said.
He reported that the items, particularly vape products, came from China.
Maronilla explained that importers of legitimate vape products have to secure permits from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and that these should be registered with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the BOC.
For motor parts, importers have to comply with regulatory requirements under Philippine product standards.
“There are parts that needs permit coming from the Philippine Bureau of Standards, that’s with the DTI, at iyong iba naman (as for the others), let’s say if it’s an engine already, minsan ho kailangan mag-secure ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources permit para tingnan po iyong emission ng engine na iki-create nito (I guess they need secure a permit from the DENR to check the emission of this engine),” Maronilla said.
He said the BOC is likewise beefing up its operations, in coordination with other government agencies along the country’s long shorelines to combat the entry of these illegal items.
“They take advantage of these shorelines to bring in illegal items such as vape, those illegal motor parts and even some agricultural products," he added.
He said the BOC is working with Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard to beef up anti-smuggling operations in the open seas.
Last week, the BOC discovered some PHP94 million worth of smuggled motor parts and accessories and suspected vape products during an operation in two separate warehouses in Manila and Laguna. (PNA)
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