The Bureau of Customs-Cagayan de Oro (BOC-CDO) has seized two units of Porsche cars worth approximately 30 million pesos that were smuggled into the country from Korea.
The smuggled vehicles were declared as truck replacement parts and were consigned to M. Aguila Car Trading, a local importer based in Cagayan de Oro City.
The BOC-CDO discovered the misdeclaration during a physical inspection of the shipment at the Mindanao International Container Port (MICP) in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Friday.
According to BOC-CDO District Collector John Simon, the shipment contained more than one thousand used truck replacement parts and two units of Porsche cars, one black and one white, valued at around 15 million pesos each.
Simon said that the importer violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the Anti-Dumping Act of 1999, which prohibit the importation of used vehicles and parts without the proper permits and clearance from the government.
He added that the importer will face criminal charges and administrative sanctions for the attempted smuggling.
BOC-CDO said that the operation is part of its intensified campaign against smuggling and tax evasion, which aims to protect the local automotive industry and generate more revenue for the government.
The seized vehicles will be subjected to forfeiture proceedings and will be disposed of in accordance with the law.