Business · Philippines Bureau
Customs agents seize over 78,000 misdeclared medical devices in Cebu
The Bureau of Customs has intercepted more than 78,000 medical devices worth approximately P1.04 million at the Port of Cebu that had been falsely declared as water purification equipment.
LSN Philippines ·
Two 40-foot shipping containers arrived at the Port of Cebu carrying the undeclared medical devices, which were concealed under false documentation claiming the shipments contained water purifier tubes and bags, the Bureau of Customs said Thursday.
The discovery was made during routine cargo inspection procedures. Officials determined that the actual contents consisted of at least 78,720 medical devices that had not been properly declared to customs authorities, violating import regulations.
The misdeclaration represents a significant customs violation and raises questions about the shipment's intended destination and ultimate end-use. The Bureau of Customs did not immediately detail the specific type of medical devices or their intended applications.
The seizure underscores ongoing efforts by Philippine customs authorities to combat smuggling and revenue evasion at major ports nationwide. Officials have intensified inspections following increased incidents of misclassified and undeclared cargo shipments entering the country.