Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday said it is monitoring a car dealer in Pasig City over luxury vehicles with questionable documents.
In a statement, the BOC said its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Intelligence Group (CIIS-IG) went to the car hub in Barangay Ugong to demand evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes after it verified that the hub is “storing and/or openly dealing exotic and hyper cars without proper documentation.”
The team discovered 197 foreign and locally sourced vehicles at the dealership when they arrived. However, it was determined that 87 of the units had questionable paperwork. On July 6, the subject vehicles’ full inventory was finished.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso said “there was reportedly no tight lockdown in the showroom.”
“This was because of the unusual location of the car hub wherein the compound is being shared by several other business establishments. If a tight lockdown was put in place, our team would have also compromised the operations of the other businesses there,” he said.
Enciso also refuted claims that the “special operation” was led by a deputy commissioner and a lawyer from a different group.
“Every operation we conduct is a product of intense brainstorming and weeks of monitoring, analyzing, and investigation. We don’t go out there on a whim. Our team has been working day and night to confirm each information we get from our sources,” he said.
Several units of Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Porsche Macan, Jaguar, GMC Savana, McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, and Land Rover are among the 87 vehicles that are presently being investigated due to questionable documents.
The car dealer has 15 days following the raid “to submit evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes due on the subject imported goods, otherwise the same will be ordered seized and undergo corresponding forfeiture proceedings pursuant to Customs Administrative Order No. 10-2020,” the BOC said.
“Pending submission of the required evidence of payment, BOC agents and officers shall underguard the hub to secure the subject vehicles 24/7,” it added.
