The Bureau of Customs (BOC) under Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero has filed charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against importers and Customs brokers who were allegedly behind the recently foiled smuggling of sugar and cigarettes from Thailand.
Now facing charges before the DOJ are Amulet Supply Chain Corporation President Evelio R. Gelleposo and Customs broker Gary Villa were both charged for violation of Sections 1400, 1401, 117, and 1430 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), for attempting to smuggle cigarettes worth over P7 million.
The smuggled cigarettes were discovered in a shipment that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on board the cargo ship NYK SILVA 0511S from Korea.
The smuggled cigarettes have an aggregate value—including Customs duties, fees, and taxes—totalling P7.71 million with a total dutiable value of P1.25 million.
The cigarettes were kept in the innermost portion of the 40 foot container van in an attempt to escape detection.
The smuggled cigarettes have an aggregate value—including Customs duties, fees, and taxes—totalling P7.71 million with a total dutiable value of P1.25 million.
The BOC has likewise filed criminal cases against JRFP International Trading owner Jun Rey F. Pabello and Customs broker Danilo P. Go, Jr., for the alleged smuggling of 15 container vans loaded with refined sugar from Thailand valued at close to P40 million pesos.
Pabello and Go also face charges for violating Sections 1400 and 1401 of the CMTA, and for violating Section 3 of RA 10845 or “An Act Declaring Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling as Economic Sabotage.”
The smuggled sugar were originally declared as floor mats and plastic floor covering. It has an aggregate value—inclusive of duties and taxes—of P38.5 million, with an estimated dutiable value of P22.63 million.