Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) agents assigned at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) discovered and confiscated smuggled counterfeit goods and general merchandise valued at P4.8 billion.
The operation took place on Friday, September 6, at a warehouse in Binondo, Manila, and was authorized by Commissioner Bien Rubio through a Letter of Authority (LOA).
Rubio praised the CIIS-MICP team for thwarting the attempt to smuggle a large quantity of counterfeit items and other merchandise, mostly coming from China.
“I am sure that this will be one of the biggest operations by the BOC this year in terms of the value of the goods found. In recent months, we’ve been monitoring several warehouses for violation of intellectual property rights. As these groups and individuals become more brazen in their attempts to circumvent our laws, the more that our BOC personnel—from top to bottom—will find and prosecute them,” he said.
According to CIIS Director Verne Enciso, the team found boxes of copyright-infringing goods from luxury brands like Dior to popular characters for kids such as Hello Kitty and Spiderman.
“Based on initial inventory of these counterfeit items, we peg the market value to be around P4.8 billion. I’ve seen my fair share of big-time operations, but amounts like this still astound me to this day,” he added.
The seized goods also included disposable vapes, vape accessories, and branded garments and bags from various well-known brands, along with school supplies, cosmetics, tools, and other general merchandise.
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