Used sports car, big bikes seized at port

Customs personnel have seized a used sports car and three “big bikes” worth P3 million which were misdeclared as household and personal items by its importer.

The vehicles were discovered after an X-ray check conducted at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) showed that the cargo consisted of four vehicles.

Jaybee Cometa of the X-Ray and Inspection Project said the items, declared as 170 packages containing household goods, were sent by a returning resident.

“But in the X-ray image, there was a shape of a motorcycle so we recommended that the shipment be placed on alert,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

The seized smuggled vehicles consisted of a Mitsubishi-3000 GT sports car, a Honda CB 900, a Yamaha, and a Kawasaki Ltd. 550 motorcycle.

They arrived at the MICP on April 28 from Oakland, California on board a container ship, Cosco Thailand V-50.

The shipment was consigned to Efrell Lopez who reportedly denied knowledge of its contents.

“The motor vehicles lacked the import permit from the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Bureau of Import Service,” deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno of the Bureau of Customs’ Enforcement Group said.

Returning residents may import one used vehicle provided that they apply for an import permit with the DTI, he added. – Julie M. Aurelio