The Bureau of Customs has reported that two persons allegedly masquerading as employees of the bureau were apprehended in an entrapment operation. The suspects are allegedly involved in the “unauthorized sale” of seized items from the BOC.
In a news statement issued on Thursday, the BOC said that the suspects were apprehended following a joint operation conducted by the BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS), BOC-Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), last Tuesday.
The BOC-CIIS and ESS coordinated with Police Lt. Col. Cesar G. Paday-os, chief, CIDG Anti-Transnational Crime Unit regarding the reported irregularities of a certain group of individuals pretending to be employees of the BOC on July 12, 2019.
Based on the initial report of the bureau’s Intelligence Group (IG), the modus of the suspects were to post vehicles on sale on social media at very low prices to “lock-in” the agreement for immediate meet ups with potential buyers.
“The ploy of these individuals is to invite their victims near the office of BOC and show identification cards to convince their victims that they are indeed BOC employees,” the BOC said.
Last July 16, an entrapment operation was then planned by the operatives of PNP-CIDG, BOC-ESS and CIIS, wherein operatives jumped off to an agreed place of the transaction at Gate 1, Port Area, Manila, which resulted in the arrest of the two suspects identified as Primo Baldon and Richard Lagrolia.
The BOC also said that a joint investigation by the bureau with the PNP is being conducted for the institution of appropriate charges against the arrested personalities.
Last May, the BOC reported that two bogus brokers suspected of extorting money from importers and exporters were arrested during a joint entrapment operation of its IG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives.
The BOC received complaints on the alleged extortion activities of two persons who were demanding P500,000 in exchange for the release of shipments consigned to Shacka Guns and Ammo which was held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The complainants, together with undercover authorities, met with the suspects where the two alleged extortionists were arrested after they accepted the marked money.
Investigation furthered revealed that the two suspects were not Customs officers but were bogus brokers who allegedly extort money from stakeholders of the BOC.
Last April, the BOC issued an administrative order covering the exercise of its jurisdiction and police authority, in a bid to boost its anti-smuggling efforts and border security mandate.