By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Iloilo office has seized an estimated P7 million worth of “ukay-ukay” products following a raid at a warehouse located in Bacolod City’s Barangay Villamonte.

In a statement released by the BOC-Port of Iloilo yesterday morning, a composite team from their Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Field Station, Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Police Division, Customs Border Protection District VI, Philippine National Police, and officials of Barangay Villamonte inspected the warehouse last week through a letter of authority signed by BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Once inside, authorities discovered bales of “ukay-ukay” containing used clothing, shoes, bags, bed sheets, and curtains.

An inventory was then conducted by the BOC Sub-Port of Pulupandan, which later estimated the value of the seized goods at more or less P7 million.

The BOC-Port of Iloilo added that an investigation is now being conducted for possible filing of charges against the owner of the seized goods for violation of RA 4653 which “prohibits commercial importation of used clothing and rags to safeguard the health of the people and maintain the dignity of the nation.”

The law carries a maximum fine of P20,000 and a two-year to five-year prison sentence./DGB, WDJ