Customs seizes P21M worth of ‘ukay-ukay’

MANILA, Philippines–Customs authorities have seized five container vans of smuggled used clothes or “ukay-ukay” worth P21 million which arrived from South Korea.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said that the shipments, during spot inspection, were found to contain used clothing instead of the items declared in the import entires.

The shipments, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port between October and November 2014, were declared as blankets, bed sheets and caps, the BOC said in a statement on Friday.

Four container vans were consigned to PJK Expresser Door to Door Corp., SEC Bldg., Edsa, Greenhills, Mandaluyong, which turned out be a bogus company and address.

The other container van was consigned to Arnel U. Figuerra of 501 East Tower PSC Center Exchange Rd., Ortigas, Pasig.

Upon investigation, operatives discovered that PJK Expresser does not hold office at the given address while Arnel Figuerra is not connected with the business establishment occupying the address given in Ortigas.

BOC issued a warrant of seizure and detention on all shipments for violation of the Section 2503 (Undervaluation, Misclassification and Misdeclaration in Entry) of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines which is penalized under Section 2530.

The importation of used clothing is also in violation of Republic Act No. 4653 which prohibits the importation of used clothing and rags.–Tina G. Santos