Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) — The Bureau of Customs on Thursday raided a store in Binondo, Manila and seized a total of ₱5-million worth of personal protective equipment and alcohol allegedly sold for exorbitant prices.
The store, located in San Nicolas, Binondo, has been charging customers almost four times the suggested retail price of the supplies, the BOC said. It is also undergoing renovation and is only operating through online transactions, it added.
Among the overpriced goods confiscated include face masks, gloves, goggles, alcohols, thermal scanners, test tubes and syringes.
Customs authorities said the store owners were not around during the raid, but they were given 15 days to present documents proving that the seized items were legally procured. If they fail to comply, they will face charges for smuggling, which is in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the BOC said.
The bureau expressed hope that this apprehension will send “a stern warning to smugglers and unscrupulous businessmen who continue to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of PPE and medical supplies.”
Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation nabbed a doctor for allegedly selling overpriced thermal scanners donated to his civic organization. He was reportedly selling infrared thermometers for P9,500 each, when the suggested retail price is only P800 to P1,500.
