THE BUREAU of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday reported that its X-ray Inspection Project (XIP) has helped in detecting imported prohibited items worth more than PHP2 billion in 2020.
“Overall, the XIP aided in detecting illegal importations with a total estimated street value of PHP2,553,167,159.79,” the BOC said in a statement.
Among the apprehensions that have been detected by the machines last year are 14 importations of illegal drugs with a collective estimated street value of PHP1,638,845,676 and 24 importations of cigarettes worth PHP833,332,661.
Two importations of automobiles consisted of a McLaren which arrived at the Port of Manila (POM), and three undeclared automobiles that arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), also tallied an estimated street value of PHP45 million.
It reported that the use of 124 X-ray machines resulted in the collection of PHP100,604,244 additional duties and taxes and the issuance of 208 warrants of seizure and detention for 2020.
The BOC added that in 2020, a total of 513,600 containers have been scanned under the XIP, a 41-percent increase from 363,629 scanned containers in 2019.
The rapid and effective screening of containerized shipments with minimum interruption to the movement of goods inside the ports while ensuring maximum threat detection is an indication of the Bureau’s intensified non-intrusive capabilities through modernized scanning equipment.
The advanced scanning technologies have also been substantial in ensuring the ports’ resiliency and adaptability in light of the restrictions under the unanticipated health crisis in 2020.
Meanwhile, for the first week of January 2021, the XIP office has recorded and generated a total of 16,168 scanned containers and collected a total of PHP1,973,368 additional duties and taxes.
It has also issued three warrants of seizure and detention. (By Ferdinand Patinio)
No comments:
Post a Comment