LOOK: Cebu port officials discover luxury vehicles in car part shipment
'MISDECLARED'. A Customs official takes note of the discovery of a Porsche in a shipment that was declared as containing a car part. Photo from Bureau of Customs
MANILA, Philippines – Port officials in Cebu discovered 4 luxury vehicles in a shipment declared as car parts from Japan, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said in a press statement on Saturday, January 5.
The BOC said authorities at the Port of Cebu checked the shipment imported by Kylemelan General Merchandise based in Malabon City after receiving an alert order on possible misdeclaration of its contents.
The BOC said that the shipment arrived in Cebu port on December 19, 2018, with documents declaring it contained only one piece of car body for decoration.
An X-ray inspection of the shipment showed that it contained 4 vehicles, prompting BOC authorities to take action against the suspected act of misdeclaration.
On January 3, the BOC conducted a physical examination of the shipment, which yielded 4 units of undeclared luxur vehicles: a Mercedes Benz, an Alfa Romeo, a Porsche 911, and Range Rover Evoque.
Customs officials recommended the issuance of warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment.
LUXURY VEHICLE. A Range Rover Evoque, one of 4 luxury vehicles found in the shipment. Photo from Bureau of Customs.
DISCOVERY. A Mercedes Benz is packed with 3 other luxury vehicles in a shipment delcared as only containing a car body part. Photo from Bureau of Customs
In June 2018, the government destroyed P278 million worth of smuggled vehicles, including 68 luxury cars, to deter smuggling. – Rappler.com
