Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ruffy Biazon led the inspection of four container vans of used ukay-ukay clothing worth PhP 15 million last July 12, 2013.

The four forty-foot container vans were seized by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Bureau of Customs-Intelligence Group (BOC-IG) at the Manila International Container Port.

According to Biazon, the four container vans of used clothing all arrived in one ship from Hong Kong last June 10, 2013 and consigned to a certain Blue Shadow Trading in Escolta, Manila.

The shipments were found to have been misdeclared as school supplies, sintra boards, tailor shop accessories, and trolley bags.

Biazon said that “the importation of used-clothing is prohibited under our customs laws for reasons of securing public safety and economic security. This is the reason why the consignee of these four container vans of used clothing misdeclared the shipment”.

Biazon added that “the Bureau of Customs will always be a step ahead of smugglers and we will aggressively pursue charges against those caught violating our Customs laws”.

Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim, head of the BOC-IG, assured its operatives that the Bureau will closely monitor the progress of the cases filed against those caught violating custom laws including the consignee of the confiscated items. This is to give support to operating units in the Bureau’s anti-smuggling campaign.

According to the BOC, the BOC-IG has recently enhanced its intelligence network with more private sector participation being tapped for its intelligence gathering system.