The Bureau of Customs (BOC) heightened monitoring of plywood products
importations to protect the local plywood industry and consumers has
caused the seizure of two (2) forty-footer container vans of misdeclared
plywood worth PhP 1.6 million from Shandong, China by alert BOC-Manila
International Container Port (MICP) Customs Intelligence and
Investigation Service (CIIS) operatives under Deputy Commissioner Danilo
Lim.
In the media presentation of the seized plywood products at the MICP
today (December 19, 2012), Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon explained
that the two (2) container loads of plywood products that were consigned
to Dragon Clash Enterprises of Sta. Cruz, Manila arrived at the MICP on
November 30, 2012 and were misdeclared as particle board to avoid
paying its appropriate duties. However, upon physical examination of the
shipment by MICP-CIIS operatives under Bienvenido Rubio, it was
discovered to be film faced plywood.
“Particle boards fall under a different tariff heading and rating with
that of film faced plywood. Obviously, those involved in this smuggling
attempt wanted to circumvent the law and avoid paying the right duties
by misdeclaring their shipment.” Biazon said, adding that, “This type of
“modus” will no longer work in the BOC as we have tightened our watch
on all ports of entry for such kind of shipment in response to the local
plywood industry’s call to curb plywood smuggling.”
Earlier in October this year, the Philippine Wood Producers Association,
in a letter to Biazon, sought the BOC’s help to stop the technical
smuggling of plywood products saying that the illegal practice is
hurting the local wood industry.
For his part, Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Danilo
Lim said, they will pursue appropriate legal action against those
involved in this smuggling attempt for violation of Section 2503 in
relation to Section 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the
Philippines.
“We will undertake a comprehensive investigation on this smuggling
attempt to identify all those involved in it, in preparation for the
BOC’s legal action to put them out of operation”. Lim said.
- BOC 22 December 2012
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