Aug 05, 2008
Vehicle smugglers move operations from Cebu to other ports
Posted by : ueb555
Vehicle smugglers move operations from Cebu to other portsciss MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs may have curbed the smuggling of imported vehicles in Cebu province, but syndicates only moved their operations to other ports.
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) official made this revelation on Monday in an interview. The official, however, refused to be named.
According to the official, the smuggling of vehicles will continue unless the Land Transportation Office (LTO) go after its corrupt workers who arrange for the registration of the illegal vehicles.
"This is according to reports that car smuggling syndicates in connivance with unscrupulous LTO personnel in Lapu-Lapu City and the cities of Toledo, Cebu, and Mandaue are responsible for the issuance of registration certificates and official receipts of smuggled vehicles which is a major requirement in vehicle registration," the official said.
According to the official, the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CISS) have greatly reduced the smuggling of imported vehicles in Cebu, prompting smuggling syndicates to move operations to other ports.
"The BOC upon orders from the President has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign in Cebu late last year after reports came out that hundreds of luxury vehicles and SUVs were being smuggled through the Port of Cebu," the official said.
The reports has been submitted to Customs Deputy Commissioner and IEG head Celso Templo.
"Since the intensified anti-smuggling campaign in Cebu was launched, not a single unit of high-end luxury vehicles as well as second-hand cars arrived at the Port of Cebu," the report said.
The smuggling syndicates have reportedly shifted operations to other ports in General Santos City, Cagayan Valley, Davao City, San Fernando (La Union), Cagayan de Oro, the Clark Freeport, the Manila International Container Port (MICP)in Subic, and even in Manila itself.
Syndicates manage to continue their illegal activities because they have connections inside the LTO.
"The license plates of smuggled vehicles which were registered in Mandaue, Toledo and Cebu cities were later issued in different LTO agencies in Metro Manila to avoid detection," he official said.
The government is losing up to P60 billion pesos in taxes and duties due to rampant smuggling, not only imported vehicles but also other commodities including oil products.
In 2007, former LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya ordered the revamp of six district heads in Cebu as part of the agency's effort to fight smuggling of vehicles in the Central Visayas which at that time was known to be the prime destination of smuggled automobiles.
A Bureau of Customs (BOC) official made this revelation on Monday in an interview. The official, however, refused to be named.
According to the official, the smuggling of vehicles will continue unless the Land Transportation Office (LTO) go after its corrupt workers who arrange for the registration of the illegal vehicles.
"This is according to reports that car smuggling syndicates in connivance with unscrupulous LTO personnel in Lapu-Lapu City and the cities of Toledo, Cebu, and Mandaue are responsible for the issuance of registration certificates and official receipts of smuggled vehicles which is a major requirement in vehicle registration," the official said.
According to the official, the Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) and the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CISS) have greatly reduced the smuggling of imported vehicles in Cebu, prompting smuggling syndicates to move operations to other ports.
"The BOC upon orders from the President has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign in Cebu late last year after reports came out that hundreds of luxury vehicles and SUVs were being smuggled through the Port of Cebu," the official said.
The reports has been submitted to Customs Deputy Commissioner and IEG head Celso Templo.
"Since the intensified anti-smuggling campaign in Cebu was launched, not a single unit of high-end luxury vehicles as well as second-hand cars arrived at the Port of Cebu," the report said.
The smuggling syndicates have reportedly shifted operations to other ports in General Santos City, Cagayan Valley, Davao City, San Fernando (La Union), Cagayan de Oro, the Clark Freeport, the Manila International Container Port (MICP)in Subic, and even in Manila itself.
Syndicates manage to continue their illegal activities because they have connections inside the LTO.
"The license plates of smuggled vehicles which were registered in Mandaue, Toledo and Cebu cities were later issued in different LTO agencies in Metro Manila to avoid detection," he official said.
The government is losing up to P60 billion pesos in taxes and duties due to rampant smuggling, not only imported vehicles but also other commodities including oil products.
In 2007, former LTO chief Reynaldo Berroya ordered the revamp of six district heads in Cebu as part of the agency's effort to fight smuggling of vehicles in the Central Visayas which at that time was known to be the prime destination of smuggled automobiles.
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