Customs authorities have seized over R13-million worth of motor vehicles which a syndicate attempted to smuggle into the country during the New Year, it was learned yesterday.
Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the cars were misdeclared as used agricultural machineries concealed in two separate container vans.
Morales identified the consignees of the shipments as Gacram Trading and Pasaram Trading, which are now facing charges of violating the Customs and Tariff Code.
The cars are right-hand drive vehicles and include the latest models of Toyota Spyer, Surf, Klugger, Honda, Mazda, and Subaru.
It was gathered that all the vehicles were reported as stolen in Japan based on a report received by the BoC from the International Police (Interpol).
In his report, BoC Director Nestorio Gualberto said he alerted his men about the shipment after carefully profiling and analyzing its import documents and upon being tipped about the smuggling attempt.
The shipments were then open in the presence of Morales and other Customs officials, thus, leading to the discovery of the banned vehicles.
Morales immediately ordered the issuance and seizure and detention order against the shipments.
He also directed the bureau’s legal division to file appropriate criminal charges against the consignees of the shipments.
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