MANILA – The Bureau of Customs filed yesterday before the Department of Justice a P300-million smuggling case against a customs broker and five officials of a Manila-based trading company.

Charged were IMAX Harbor International Trading Corporation's president and chairman of the board Doroteo Montalbo, his board of directors Rochelle Posadas, Jose Dizon, Rafael Lactao and Elaine Wee, and IMAX's licensed customs broker Roger Permejo.

BOC Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon said that the six respondents were accused of violations of certain provisions of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines, Section 166 of Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code, Section 4 of R.A. 8203, or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, and Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

Biazon said that they were charged after their attempt to illegally ship two 40-footer container vans filled with P300 million worth of counterfeit bags, medicines, mobile phones, mobile phone batteries and chargers, including wristwatches, into the country in September 2011, was foiled.

"Smuggling of counterfeit goods is very damaging to the country's economy, not only in terms of foregone duties and taxes, but also because of its impact on the local business and labor,” Biazon said.

Every illegally imported counterfeit bag that is able to enter the local market could be one locally manufactured bag left unsold. And for every unsold locally manufactured bag could be a loss of labor man-hours, he said.

"This is precisely the reason why we are closely monitoring all cargoes that enter the country, especially those suspected to be fake if only to protect the local business and labor," Biazon added.

The IMAX shipment was declared as plastic products, bags and other items. However, upon examination by BOC officials, the two 40-footer container vans turned out to contain high-end counterfeit bags, medicines and cellphones.*PNA

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