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Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Police score with arrest of 'big-time smuggler'
* Customs execs allegedly involved in smuggling incident, cops say
POLICE presented on Monday a Filipino-Chinese businessman who was apprehended for alleged involvement in big-time smuggling operations in the country.
Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), said the suspect, Samuel Lee, was captured last Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
He said an additional case awaits Lee for allegedly bribing members of the arresting team with P300,000 in exchange for his release.
Versoza said his men, under Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, arrested the suspect in connection with the alleged smuggling of three containers of P2.6 million worth of plastic resin in Port Area, Manila.
A report said Lee misdeclared as "packaging materials" the plastic resin that were imported under Import Entry and Internal Revenue Declaration of Liontex Enterprises Inc. through Harbor Link Brokerage Services.
The shipment was supposed to be delivered to Customs Bonded Warehouse No. 1687 at Lee's address in Caloocan City but it was diverted to Consumer Plastic Packaging Corporation located at 98 Mulawinan Street, Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City, allegedly owned by a certain Butch Go, in violation of tariff and customs laws.
The CIDG operatives intercepted the shipment last Saturday.
Police said the illegal importation and diversion were made upon the instructions of Lee in alleged conspiracy with the brokerage firm and Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials.
From Hong Kong, Lee flew to Manila to settle the confiscation of three containers made and the impending seizure of another 59 containers at the Port of Manila that were also loaded with plastic resin.
Prior to Lee's arrest, the CIDG had been receiving reports of diversion of shipments to avoid the payment of tariff and customs duties.
The suspect was tagged by opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson and Representative Ma. Imelda "Imee" Marcos as a smuggler closed to siblings Vicky and Thomas Toh who have connections with First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. (JFF/Sunnex)
(March 7, 2006 issue)
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