The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has taken into custody around P350 million worth of used clothing (locally known as ukay-ukay) and other imported products, which are believed to have been smuggled into the country, during the inspections conducted in warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan on Thursday, July 13.  BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said the contraband was discovered during an inspection conducted by agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) on warehouses at the Philippine Asia Pacific Realty Compound, on Villarica Road, Sta. Rosa 1, Marilao town. Personnel of the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Coast Guard inspect a pile of used clothings and other imported products which are part of the P350 million worth of items seized after inspections on several warehouses in Marilao, Bulacan on July 13, 2023. (photo: BOC)

Aside from the used clothings, also discovered were mosquito coils, fake goods and other imported products. “The team inspected the warehouses and found them to contain used clothing or ukay-ukay, mosquito coils, IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)-infringing goods, and other suspected smuggled imported goods,” said Rubio.  All the confiscated items, he said, are worth more or less P350 million.  CIIS-MICP Intelligence Officer Alvin Enciso, who led the operation, said they immediately requested for the issuance of a Letter of Authority (LOA) over intelligence reports of smuggled items being stored in some warehouses in Bulacan. The inspection based on the serving of the LOA confirmed their intelligence reports as smuggled items, including counterfeit goods, were discovered in the warehouses.                                                              (photo: BOC)  Enciso has expressed gratitude to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for providing them with additional manpower during the operations. He said the local police and barangay officials also helped in serving and implementing the LOA.  Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said that the warehouses have been sealed and the team temporarily placed padlocks. “Ongoing inspection is being conducted on the subject warehouses. This is to be followed by an inventory of the goods, which would be conducted by our assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by CIIS and ESS (Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) agents,” said Uy.