The Philippines Customs Destroys Over 150,000 Pairs of Fake Footwear Products

The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BOC) destroyed over 150,000 pairs of smuggled counterfeit footwear products of well-known brands worth at least P50 million today.

Mass destruction: Over 150,000 pairs of smuggled counterfeit footwear products of well-known brands worth at least P50 million were destroyed today (Image via Official Gazette)

The condemned counterfeit shoes and slippers were imitations of footwear models from well-known brands including Nike, adidas, Converse, Skechers, Northface, Leaveland, Merelle, Lacoste, Vans, Havaianas and Ipanema.

According to the Official Gazette, The loot was first seized in Parañaque City in February 2014 as part of the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) campaign that continues to build up cases against importers and brokers involved in counterfeit smuggling.

“These counterfeit shoes and slippers were smuggled from China and were part of a big raid we had last year inside the Olivarez Compound in Parañaque City. We seized the warehouse to check the legality of the importation of goods but the owner failed to produce proof of payment of duties and taxes from Customs, consequently, the warehouse was padlocked and sealed for BOC custody,” said Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla. “The shipments were subjected to a series of hearing yet it was a no show for any representative of the claimant, so these fake items were forfeited and destroyed.”

Sevilla, speaking on behalf of the BOC, issued a stern warning: “This is just the beginning of our campaign to destroy these fake products so that these items would not find their way into anyone’s hands. We will not allow the Philippines to be a dumping ground of counterfeit goods. The BOC will ensure that manufacturers and distributors of genuine brands are protected. We are urging the public not to buy counterfeit products…”

In April 2014, the BOC also shred to pieces some more than 200 boxes of shoes imported from China after they were found to be fake at the Port of Davao.

Source: Official Gazette