Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service have seized a container van loaded with used luxury cars worth P20 million at the Manila International Container Port.
Based on the import documents, Blue Core Enterprises imported the vehicles but described the shipment as ‘furniture’. The shipment arrived at the Manila North Harbor on Oct. 16
Among the vehicles seized on Oct. 20 were a Porsche Sports car, a Bentley Luxury Car, a Mercedes Benz Sports car and a half-cut Volkswagen.
The Office of the MICP District Collector has already ordered the seizure of the shipment.
The bureau also placed the importer under investigation and may face criminal charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
The agency reminded the public that the importation of used vehicles is strictly prohibited.
In a statement, district collector Romeo Allan Rosales said the MICP remained committed in preventing the illegal entry of items into the country.
He said through the guidance of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the port would continue to enforce border protection and other Customs laws.
Last August, CIIS agents also intercepted a P33-million worth McLaren 620R supercar in the Manila South Harbor.
The shipment was consigned to Llorin Trading and arrived at the Port of Manila on July 16, 2020. It was declared as a brand-new Porsche Cayman sports car in an attempt to avoid the payment of the correct duties and taxes.
The authorities intercepted the shipment on Aug. 3 and found out it was a McLaren 620R supercar.
Reports showed that the eMcLaren 620R is the road-legal version of the British supercar maker’s GT4 race car, equipped with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 612hp and 620Nm.
Customs officials said the value of the car was P33 million, which technically entitled the government to more than P16 million in duties and taxes. The importer, instead, paid only P1.5 million in duties and taxes.
