Customs files smuggling complaint against importers

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) filed a smuggling complaint on Thursday against two businessmen, the first case filed by the agency under President Benigno Aquino III’s administration. The complaint was filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Eduardo Saguid and Nestor Ignacio, proprietors of Gold Mind Trading and Quick Flo Trading, respectively. The two businessmen allegedly imported P300 million worth of electronic products and general merchandise for the past six months, Customs officials said. However, the traders "paid only minimal duties and taxes for their numerous shipments," BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said, citing findings of Customs deputy commissioner Gregorio Chavez. These same findings were unearthed after an investigation was conducted by the bureau’s Run After The Smugglers (RATS) program. "From the years 2009 to 2010, Gold Mind and Quick Flow made importations of various products, mostly household appliances, office equipment, and even agricultural products that were declared in over 1,300 import entries," a fact sheet prepared by the BOC said. Eight other customs brokers were also accused in the case, which Alvarez filed at the DOJ, together with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. The companies in question also allegedly used a fictitious address to secure an accreditation from the Bureau. The submission of the complaint on Thursday is a move to show that smugglers’ "happy days are over," Alvarez said. "We will run after them and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. My personal goal is to make smuggling unprofitable," the Customs chief said. For her part, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the bureau should also investigate the alleged involvement of Customs employees who could be colluding with Saguid and Ignacio. "Investigation of the people within the BOC should also be a priority by the new leadership of the bureau. These things wouldn't happen without some help from the inside," said De Lima. The incident comes a week after the first tax evasion case was filed under the new administration. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed a tax evasion complaint against William Villarica, owner of five branches of a pawnshop chain. [See: BIR files tax evasion vs. pawnshop owner] He supposedly failed to file income tax returns from 2002 to 2009. In 2007, he claimed having zero income despite being reportedly able to buy a P26-million Lamborghini sports car that year. Also last week, De Lima told the public to expect the government to heighten its crackdown on tax evaders and smugglers, pursuant to President Aquino's directive. "This will be the beginning of a series of successive filing of cases of anti-smuggling and anti-tax evasion. As you know, one of the priorities is to intensify anti-smuggling and anti-tax evasion, and one best way is to intensify and maximize the filing of cases," De Lima said. — Sophia M. Dedace, RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV