THROUGH the collective efforts of the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS), Port of Cagayan de Oro, and Port of Subic, two criminal complaints were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the importers and the Customs broker of alleged smuggled cigarettes and assorted goods amounting to P32 million.
The first case is against UHE Trading due to the alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of 950 cartons of cigarettes from China on January 18, 2022 at the Port of Cagayan de Oro. The said goods are estimated to be worth P32.2 million.
UHE Trading is said to have violated pertinent provisions of the Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA); Customs Memorandum Order No. 20-2006; RA 10963, otherwise known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law; National Tobacco Administration (NTA) 079-2005; and NTA Memorandum Circular No. 03, s. 2004.
The second case is against Jack Electronic Metal Inc. and its licensed customs broker for the alleged misdeclaration and unlawful importation of assorted goods without the necessary import permit. The shipment, valued at P78,692.92, came from the United States of America (USA) and arrived at the Port of Subic on September 27, 2021.
The respondents purportedly violated the CMTA; RA 6969, otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990; DENR Administrative Order 2013-22; and the Revised Penal Code, as amended.
Since January 2022, the BOC has filed 22 criminal cases involving 65 individuals and licensed customs brokers before the DOJ and administrative cases against 6 licensed customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission.
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