Nine people were formally charged today at the Department of Justice (DOJ) by Bureau of Customs officials led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon for attempting to smuggle into the country over P 21.64 million worth of motor vehicles, industrial and household goods, gun parts, accessories and bullets.

According to Biazon, the owners and brokers of LG Miranda Transport Services, Junta Trading, Golden House Trading Company and a certain Renato Ramos are being charged for violation of Sections 3601 and 2503 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and the country’s Comprehensive Industry Policy and Directions for the Motor Development Program.

“These apprehensions are results of the Bureau’s enhanced intelligence and enforcement capabilities,” Biazon said, adding that, “We have tightened our intelligence and enforcement network, I would like, therefore, to send this warning to ill minded businessmen who deal with customs, to think twice before they even plan of getting goods into the country illegally.”

The Bureau’s Intelligence Group (IG) is currently headed by Deputy Commissioner Ret. Gen. Danilo Lim, while its Enforcement Group (EG) is headed by Deputy Commissioner Horacio P. Suancing, Jr. EG has supervision over the Bureau’s Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), the customs police unit that is headed by Ret Gen. George Aliño.

For his part RCMG Deputy Commissioner Peter Manzano, who is also the concurrent Head of the Run After The Smuggler (RATS) Program stressed that they expect to get positive result from the DOJ on the cases they filed against smugglers. The BOC’s RATS unit is responsible for the filing of charges against smugglers.

Named respondents in the charge sheets were Lilibeth Miranda, owner of LG Miranda Transport Services for attempting to smuggle one (1) unit Hummer H2 2007 model, one (1) unit 2007 Lincoln Navigator, one (1) unit 2008 Cadillac Escalade and another three (3) units 2007 Cadillac Escalades with a total value of P18 million. Miranda’s shipment of vehicles which were loaded in three (3) forty footer container vans were intercepted and seized by BOC Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) operatives at the Manila International Container Port on June 20, 2011.

Junimer B. Talara and Jay M. Marigomen of Junta Trading for their part are being charged for attempting to smuggle a used metal and wood working machine, six (6) used motorcylces and one (1) motor cycle engine. The estimated value of the misdeclared goods that were stacked in one 40 footer container van was placed at P1,227,486.63. The Junta Trading shipment was intercepted on November 8, 2011 at the Port of Cebu.

On the other hand, Renato Ramos and a certain Rafael Rubio were named respondents by the BOC for attempting to deceive customs officials by declaring his one (1) forty container load of gun parts, accessories, bullets and six (6) units of dismantled motorcycles as used house hold goods. Renato’s goods were estimated to be worth P1,549,191.64. Ramos’ container van was seized on November 3, 2011, also at the Porte ofe Cebu.

And D’ Golden House Trading Officials Nazario R. Canono, Tirso S. Otar, Warren L. Dy and Miguel B. Panis are being charged for attempting to smuggle into the country through the Port of Cebu, gun parts and accessories, bullets, radio transceivers, a truck prime mover and other used household goods. The 40 footer container van of illegally imported goods was seized on November 23, 2011.
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