The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday announced the seizure of 18 luxury vehicles worth P107 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the vehicles were confiscated after they were undervalued, and lacked the necessary documentary requirements from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The shipment arrived at MICP on separate dates from October 13 to 19.
“This is a blatant disregard of Customs rules on importation. I am sure traders know what is required when bringing luxury vehicles into the country. I appeal to all importers not to disregard Customs laws or else you will face the consequences of your malpractice,” Lapeña told reporters during inspection of the seized vehicles.
Seized were 12 units of Toyota Land Cruisers, three units of Range Rovers, two units of Chevrolet Camaro, and a unit of McLaren, all latest models.
The vehicles, which came from Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, were examined at the container yard at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. on October 23.
Custom authorities discovered that the consignee declared the total amount of vehicles at only P32.8 million, or about P75.1 million less than their original total prices.
Besides undervaluation, Lapeña bared that the importers of the luxury cars failed to submit BIR’s Authority to Release Imported Goods (Atrig) documents, which allow the release of imported goods from the custody of BOC upon payment of rightful duties and taxes or proof of exemption from payment thereof.
Lapeña explained that imported motor vehicles, apart from payment of Customs duties, are also subject to the imposition of excise tax, as provided for in the National Internal Revenue Code.
“If we did not alert these shipments, these could have been released from Customs custody without the required Atrig and correct valuation. The fact that the importer could not produce the BIR clearance and declare the correct value of shipments send a signal that something is questionable with the shipments,” Lapeña noted.
Records showed that the shipments were processed by Customs broker Roy Lasdoce and consigned to Gamma Gray Marketing in Port Area, Manila.
The BOC chief said he has ordered an investigation of the Customs broker and consignee’s permit to import luxury cars to determine their liability and possible violation of Revenue Regulations 2-2016 and 25-2003 and Sections 1400 of the Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.