DAVAO CITY (May 26) — Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Friday led the opening of six containers of misdeclared items, amounting to P50-million which were downloaded in Davao and Panabo City ports. .
Lapeña told reporters that the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) in the Port of Davao was alerted about the shipment which prompted them to conduct an inspection.
“May nag alert sa amin, kaya nag inspection kami at ito nga, contraband, misdeclared ito,” he told reporters during the interview.
The goods were downloaded at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City and Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
The shipper declared that the cargo contained plastic plates but it turned out to be loads of onions, magic sugar, candies, mosquito coils, and used clothing.
The goods originated in China, Indonesia and United Stated, it arrived in two separate shipment.
Lapeña said the goods was shipped for Janrev Enterprises.
“Ang sabi plastics plates,” Lapeña stressed, but the Customs officials found 401 cartons of Snowbear candy and 869 cartons of mosquito coil.
Three imports of Bizreal Trading International were also found to contain apples mixed with 6,300 sacks of onion.
At the DICT port in Panabo, the misdeclared shipments are owned by Mahmud Enterprises and Kobesean Trading, the containers were loaded with bales of used clothing “ukay-ukay” , 275 boxes of magic sugar, and 115 boxes of lotion. Lapeña said the goods were declared as bed sheets, shoes, pillowcases, stuffed toys, and bags.
Lawyer Romalino Valdez, Port of Davao District collector, said they are closely monitoring the import of agricultural products to prevent their entry into the country.
Valdez said his office has issued warrants of seizure and detention to suspicious shipments.
Lapeña said the Customs will file the necessary charges against the owners of the contraband while the goods will be forfeited.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
