The Bureau of Customs (BOC) heightened monitoring of plywood products importations to protect the local plywood industry and consumers has caused the seizure of two (2) forty-footer container vans of misdeclared plywood worth PhP 1.6 million from Shandong, China by alert BOC-Manila International Container Port (MICP) Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) operatives under Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim.

In the media presentation of the seized plywood products at the MICP today (December 19, 2012), Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon explained that the two (2) container loads of plywood products that were consigned to Dragon Clash Enterprises of Sta. Cruz, Manila arrived at the MICP on November 30, 2012 and were misdeclared as particle board to avoid paying its appropriate duties. However, upon physical examination of the shipment by MICP-CIIS operatives under Bienvenido Rubio, it was discovered to be film faced plywood.

“Particle boards fall under a different tariff heading and rating with that of film faced plywood. Obviously, those involved in this smuggling attempt wanted to circumvent the law and avoid paying the right duties by misdeclaring their shipment.” Biazon said, adding that, “This type of “modus” will no longer work in the BOC as we have tightened our watch on all ports of entry for such kind of shipment in response to the local plywood industry’s call to curb plywood smuggling.”

Earlier in October this year, the Philippine Wood Producers Association, in a letter to Biazon, sought the BOC’s help to stop the technical smuggling of plywood products saying that the illegal practice is hurting the local wood industry.

For his part, Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Danilo Lim said, they will pursue appropriate legal action against those involved in this smuggling attempt for violation of Section 2503 in relation to Section 2530 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines.

“We will undertake a comprehensive investigation on this smuggling attempt to identify all those involved in it, in preparation for the BOC’s legal action to put them out of operation”. Lim said.