Customs destroys P4.6 million worth of forfeited goods

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of NAIA on Thursday said that it destroyed at least P4.6 million worth of abandoned and forfeited goods last June 6.

In a statement, the Customs said that the forfeited goods underwent condemnation through pyrolysis under the supervision of BOC-NAIA’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division.

Among the goods destroyed were expired and unregistered food items, used UV lamps, prohibited Chinese medicines, and 60 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes with an estimated market value of P3.89 million.

In a separate statement, District Collector Carmelita Talusan stressed the importance of preventing the entry of prohibited goods, especially medicines and food products that were illegally imported without the necessary permits.

Talusan also highlighted the importance of ensuring ease of doing business and expeditious release of goods.

Meanwhile, the BOC-NAIA pledged to serve as one of the nation’s premier ports in terms of trade facilitation, revenue collection and border protection as the country geared towards full economic recovery from the onslaughts of the COVID-19 pandemic.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News