P6-million smuggled cellphones seized

MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P6.1-million worth of smuggled cellular phones in Manila.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said the confiscation of the products was done recently following a hot car pursuit which ended with the suspects being cornered in their van containing 793 pieces of smuggled Cloud Fone Thrill 430X cellular phones by the BOC's Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) operatives along San Marcelino St. in Manila.

Windfreight Express Total Logistics employees Narciso Briones and John Jamilla Bernardion were both held for violation of Sections 3601 and 3609 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP).

According to Biazon, the ESS operatives were about to investigate reports of imported goods being spirited out of the Safeway Warehouse, a Customs bonded warehouse in Manila, when the team saw a closed van speeding out of the warehouse.

Immediately, the ESS operatives gave chase, resulting in the arrest of the two suspects.

“I am warning those who would like to earn quick money out of smuggling again…with proper authorization from the courts or other concerned government instrumentalities, we will bang or breakdown doors, if necessary, if only to get smugglers and illegally imported goods," Biazon said.

The seized cell phones will eventually be auctioned to enable the government to recover its foregone revenues and the persons involved, shall subsequently be charged at the appropriate courts. (SDR/Sunnex)