“BOC files smuggling raps vs. gun importer, CD replicating mux importer, bogus firms” |
| BOC files smuggling raps vs. gun importer, CD replicating mux importer, bogus firms Posted: 09 Dec 2010 08:53 AM PST By U.S. News Agency / Asian The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed smuggling charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a female gun smuggler, a CD replicating machine importer, a fly-by-night company used as a dummy by importers and another bogus corporation. Charged with illegal importation of firearms was Lucia Chicco, of 110 Fordahm St., Marisol, Angeles City, who tried to clear a 40-footer contain van said to contain used household goods and personal effects but yielded 16 assorted long barrel guns and ammunitions, two revolvers,six pistols and two safety deposit boxes containing assorted ammunitions. In a press conference, BOC Commissioner Angelito "Lito" Alvarez said that the list of firearms confiscated by Customs Enforcement Services acting director Jose Yuchongco included browning BT-99 single trap rifle, a Belgium double barrel long rifle, a Harris sniper rifle, an ITHAGA 12-gauge shotgun, an F-776566 long rifle and a 24-carat Winchester USA model 94aE rifle. The ammunitions include 1,648 pieces (pcs) of caliber 22 bullets, 1,121 pcs 9-mm bullets, 203 pcs armalite bullets and 114 pcs magnum 44 bullets. Alvarez said that an inventory of items found in Chicco's contaner van which arrived at the Manila International Container Port included 1 used 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, one used 1983 Kawasaki motorcycle and one used 1999 Plymouth sedan which had also been seized for not being covered by the required permit from the Bureau of Import Service of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Charged with unlawful importation of assorted units of CD replicating machines and accessories was Kristofferson Manalo, broker of Kintetsu World Express (KWE), which is the logistics operator for Info Bright HK, the shipper and the owner of the imported machines under KWE's vendor managed inventory program. Alvarez said that the entire shipment was seized and the broker charged with unlawful importation because the machines were brought in without the required permit, clearance and license from the Optical Media Board (OMB). The illegal shipment consisting of four units of replicating machines and various spare parts and accessories had a dutiable value of P280 million. A fly-by-night company being used as a dummy by still unknown parties had also been exposed as existing only on paper following investigations conducted by the BOC's Run After The Smugglers (RATS) Team that it provided fictitious address in its accreditation application with the BOC. Alvarez said that Goldrich International Exchange could not be located in its listed address at Suite 2000 Remar Building, No. 49 Dona Soledad Avenue, Better Living Subdivision, Paranaque City. BOC Deputy Commissioner Gregorio Chavez said that Goldrich "is a bogus business enterprise that was created mainly for the purpose of securing customs accreditation and facilitating the entry of unlawfully imported goods to the damage and prejudice of the government." Records of the case showed that between October 2009 and July 2010, Goldrich regularly made importations of various products that were declared in 269 import entries with a dutiable value of P80.9 million and duties and taxes totaling P16.9 million. Chaves said that the total value declared by Goldrich was extremely understated and the duties and taxes paid were incredulously low because RATS investigators were able to establish that the 269 import entries involved assorted commodities worth at least P1.3 billion. Charged were Teodoro Mendoza, major stock holder; Alberto Aguilar, principal officer; and Lilibeth dela Pena Meinguito, import documentation officer. Also sued were customs brokers namely, Nimdorge Tariman, Carlos Dacaymat, Jr. and Elsa Marie Contreras. Likewise charged was Kornets International Company Limited which tried in March this year to bring in counterfeit products, which was found to have listed an abandoned four-storey building at 99 Dona Rosario St., Dona Rosario Villa, in Novaliches, as its place of business. Alvarez said that a container filled with cosmetic hardware and electronic products consigned to Kornets was abandoned by the company after the shipment was ordered by the BOC to undergo 100 percent examination a inventory. The assorted merchandise worth at least P3 million were all certified by the concerned manufacturers as fake. Among the companies whose products were imitated by the suppliers of Kornets include Unilever Philippines, Nivea, L'Oreal and SEEMI. Alvarez said that the filing of the charges should convince smugglers and their cohorts in the BOC that their happy days are over. "We will run after them and prosecute them to the full extent of the law," he said. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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