BOC earns P1.8-M from forfeited goods

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) raised P1.8 million through a public auction of forfeited goods.

In a statement last week, District Collector Rizalino Jose Torralba said the auction, held on Nov. 29, 2024, involved 13 containers from four sale lots. Items sold included sandals, inflatable pools, cylindrical hinges, sodium sulfate, fire-protective board kits, a used motor vehicle, and other assorted goods.

The MICP’s Auction and Cargo Disposal Division earned P1,782,500 from the auction and P20,200 from bidder registration fees.

The auction adhered to Sections 1118 and 1139 to 1151 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and was guided by Customs Administrative Order 03-2020. These regulations allow the BOC to dispose of seized, abandoned, and forfeited goods through public auctions and other means.

Torralba highlighted that such auctions not only generate revenue for the national treasury but also strengthen the BOC’s mission to protect the country’s borders from illicit and non-compliant imports.