BOC files raps vs 2 traders for smuggling of ‘hot vehicles’

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs on Thursday filed with the Department of Justice a criminal complaint against consignees of illegally imported vehicles from Japan and US.

Facing complaint for violation of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines and Executive Order 156 that ban the importation of used vehicles are Anthony F. Soriano, owner-proprietor of RANTHS General Merchandise and Sonny H. Villatuya.

Soriano has been slapped with a smuggling complaint after his 40-footer container van which arrived at the Port of Davao last Feb. 9 was discovered to have contained a used Range Rover, Mini Cooper and a Nissan 350-Z with a total value of P3 million.

Villatuya, on the other hand, was the consignee for 14 illegally imported used right-hand vehicles from Japan worth P5 million which were seized by ESS Motor Vehicle Clearance operatives upon its arrival at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in December 2012.