The Bureau of Customs’ Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service - Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) is looking into an auto vault in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City that was found to contain 44 high-end luxury vehicles discovered on February 21.

BOC CIIS-MICP official Alvin Enciso said they suspect that the vehicles were smuggled into the country without payment of proper duties and taxes.

Some of the high-end vehicles found inside the establisheent include Rolls Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 720s, Ferrari 488, Ferrari 458, Maserati Levante, Mercdes Benz G Wagon Brabus, Mercedes Benz G63, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Porsche 911 GT3. and others.

The cars are estimated to be worth around P900 million.

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“Allegedly maraming raw pong naipasok sa bansa through technical smuggling o outright smuggling ng mga sasakyan na mamahalin na hindi po nakapagbayad ng karapat-dapat na duties ang taxes sa gobyerno, lalong lalo na sa Bureau of Customs,” said Enciso.

He added that intelligence officers monitored the building for three weeks and found some of the vehicles were connected to POGOs.

“May mga report din po kasing natanggap ang opisina, intelligence group na 'yung mga nagsilisan na po na mga POGO boss or POGO operators itinago ang kanilang mga sasakyan imbes na ibenta ng mura ay tinago raw sa iba’t ibang mga establisimyento at isa po ito sa isang itinuturo na pinagtataguan,” he said. 

The establishment was allegedly paid for vehicle safekeeping.

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The BOC asked officers of the auto vault to dhow proper documents for the vehicles, but the establishment said it is not connected to the importation business.

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“Kahit sabihin nila nitong ating mga binisita na ito ay naki-park lang, nilinis lang, inaayos lang, basta nadatnan natin nire-require natin na sila ay mag-submit ng documents… kung talagang hindi naman po sa kanila sa talyer ho yung nagdi-detail ng sasakyan, hayaan ho nilang ipahakot sa amin at maibenta na lang ho ng Bureau of Customs ng magkaroon ng additional revenue collection,” said Enciso.

The BOC said that if the vehicles were smuggled, the government lost around P300 million to P400 milllion in taxes.

“Maaari ho iyan mayroon silang ginamit na mga front sa pagpaparehistro ng mga sasakyan, kaya nga ho magko-ccoordinate sa AMLAC, sa PAOCC upang pagtulung-tulungan ho ng gobyerno upang matunton ho saan nanggagaling yung mga pera ng mga ito,” said Enciso.

However, lawyers of the auto vault said that the premises is owned by private individuals.

"At this time we are in the process of reaching out to the owners to assist the BOC to make sure that they have complied with the appropriate Customs and importation rules and regulations,” said Atty. Julius Otsuka, the auto vault’s legal counsel.  

“We respect the BOC statements regarding that but we have all the all the proper documentations regarding all cars here. And as said a while ago, 22 cars have already submitted the proper documents to BOC for clearance. In fact, 2 of them were released today, so we want to assure that we are really complying with the laws,” said Atty. Baby-lyn Millano, the auto vault’s legal counsel. 

The BOC has given the business establishment 15 days to explain and provide all proper documents, including proof of payment on duties and taxes.

Aside from auto shops, the BOC said it received reports that some smuggled vehicles were hidden inside condominiums and subdivisions.