The Bureau of Customs has seized 18 luxury cars worth more than P107 million, which were undervalued and failed to meet the requirements from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the imported cars included 12 Toyota Land Cruisers, three Range Rovers, two Chevrolet Camaros, and one McLaren, all current models. They arrived at the Manila International Container Port last month.
MICP district collector Ruby Alameda said the shipments were consigned to Gamma Gray Marketing, which came from Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
“The luxury cars were seized because of undervaluation and failure of consignee to provide the BIR’s Authority To Release Imported Goods or ATRIG,” Lapeña said.
The ATRIG is an authority issued by the BIR that allows the release of imported goods from the custody of Customs upon payment of rightful duties and taxes, or proof of exemption from payment thereof, and it must be issued prior to release from the BoC.
Imported motor vehicles, apart from payment of customs duties, are subject to the imposition of excise tax, as provided for by pertinent revenue regulations from the BIR, he said.
“If we did not alert these shipments, these could have been released from customs custody without the required ATRIG and correct valuation. The fact that the importer cannot produce the BIR clearance and declare the correct value of shipments send a signal that something is questionable with the shipments,” he said.
Lapeña has also ordered an investigation of the Customs broker and consignee’s permit to import luxury cars, to determine their liability and possible violation of Revenue Regulations and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
“This is a blatant disregard of customs rules on importation. I am sure traders know what is required when bringing luxury vehicles into the country. I appeal to all importers not to disregard customs laws or else you will face the consequences of your malpractice,” he added.
