The unrelenting campaign of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to flush out smuggling has once again caused the seizure of P31.8 million worth of misdeclared and undervalued candies, outboard motors, motor oils, kilowatt hour meters and equipment for setting-up an illegal drugs manufacturing laboratory by operatives of the Bureau’s Enforcement Group (EG) under Deputy Commissioner Horacio P. Suansing, Jr. at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

According to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon during the media presentation of all seized items at the MICP today, importer Scan Marine Inc, tried to pass its container van loaded with four (4) units of outboard motors and two (2) kinds of Motor oils as outboard motor parts, but was issued an Alert Order upon the recommendation of the Operations and Intelligence Office of the Enforcement Group (OIO-EG) Head lawyer Imelda Cruz and Arnel Baylosis. The shipment was estimated to be worth P6.8 million.

“I have instructed all BOC frontline officials to scrutinize thoroughly all importation documents for any sign or indication of misdeclaration or undervaluation to ensure that appropriate taxes are collected by the government, Biazon stressed.

“Although we were able to post the Bureau’s highest collection ever last year, we have a higher collection target to meet this year. This is the reason why I have ordered all our frontline people to be even more vigilant to facilitate higher collection and to ensure that no contraband goods such as drugs are able to enter the country,” he added.

Together with the Scan Marine, Inc. shipment, Extreme Five Trading Corp. also tried to pass its 2,520 cartons of various types of candies as food additives, but were likewise intercepted and seized by the OIO-EG operatives, also at the MICP. The seized candy shipment was worth P1 million. While, Telsphere Intl. Trading Corp. thought that it could do away with taxes by declaring its 257 units of kilowatt hour meters worth P4.4 million as vacuum heaters.

And W.A. Bitancor Enterprises’ two container vans of equipment from China worth P20 million like chip condensers, pumps, a control panel, thermometer, fittings, boilers, reactors and valves among other gears for setting up a laboratory for manufacturing illegal drugs and substances never missed the watchful eyes of the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) operatives under retired General George Aliño, when the two 40 footer container vans were issued Alert Orders on December 13, 2011.

For his part, Deputy Commissioner Suansing pointed out that one way to facilitate higher revenue collection is the strict enforcement of customs laws and rules. “In this regard and in compliance with the Commissioner’s order to generate more revenues, I have likewise ordered all EG personnel to exert due diligence in the performance of their jobs,” Suansing said.