Smuggling charges were filed by the Bureau of Customs against a Philippines-based company accused of importing petfoods, as well as against its customs broker who is accused of gross undervaluation of the imported goods.
Leoby C. Leonidas, owner of Honey Drops Marketing, and the company's customs broker, Isabelita C. Galera, were charged by the Department of Jusice for undervaluing Honey Drop's previous 15-month, P474.5 million (US$11 million), petfood importations by more than 80%.
According to customs commissioner, Angelito A. Alvarez, Galera and Leonidas claimed petfood shipments valued at only P10.12 per kilo (US$.023 per kilo), which is lower than the P48.84(US$1.11) to P53.24 (US$1.21) per kilo range reported by other importers of the same products.
"For committing various fraudulent practices against customs revenue, Honey Drops should not only be asked to pay the corresponding duties and taxes on the subject importations totaling P83.1 million (US$1.9 million). Their entire shipments with a combined dutiable value of P474.5 million should have been forfeited in favor of the government," Alzarez said.
