SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Four sports cars worth at least R2 million were seized here yesterday by operatives of Task Force Subic headed by Gen. (ret,) Jose Calimlim.
Calimlim, together with Port of Subic Customs District Collector Marietta Zamoranos and personnel of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority-Intelligence and Investigation Office (SBMA-IIO), Law Enforcement Department (LED) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC), opened a container van which was declared as containing spare parts worth $350.
However, the shipment turned out to contain four luxury vehicles placed on top each other and covered with spare parts and automobile seats.
There were two BMW model cars, a Toyota Celica and a Mitsubishi Mirage. All four vehicles were estimated to have a total value of at least R2 million.
Calimlim said that the shipment was consigned to a a registered business locator inside Subic Freeport.
He said, however, that the locator has abandoned the shipment.
Charges of technical smuggling will be filed against the consignee of the seized shipment despite his action of abandoning the shipment.
"We are trying to show to these people that smuggling is not tolerated in Subic. So far, we have seized 30 vehicles and have filed cases against eight locators here and 22 other people," Calimlim said.
The vehicles were turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for custody. These will be included in a public auction and the sales proceeds will be turned over to the national coffers.
