AUTHORITIES uncovered an estimated P700 million worth of suspected counterfeit imported footwear at a warehouse in Imus City, Cavite, one of the largest intellectual property enforcement operations mounted this year by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and its partners.
The operation stemmed from intelligence information provided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Cavite Provincial Field Unit, which reported the alleged presence of imported merchandise suspected of violating customs and intellectual property laws.
BOC’s inspection team was composed of personnel from the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the legal service.
They were joined by operatives from the PNP-CIDG Cavite Provincial Field Unit, the PNP Imus Component City Police Station, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Authorities discovered thousands of pairs of footwear bearing internationally recognized trademarks, including Adidas, On Cloud, New Balance, Asics, Crocs, Nike, Jordan, Puma, Converse, Skechers, and Louis Vuitton (LV).
Based on the initial inventory and valuation conducted by Customs authorities, the seized merchandise has an estimated market value of P700 million, one of the largest counterfeit footwear discoveries in recent months.
Inventory, verification, and legal proceedings are now underway to determine the origin of the shipments, identify the parties responsible for their importation and storage, and establish possible violations of customs, tariff and intellectual property regulations.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended the CIDG and the agency’s partner organizations for their timely intelligence sharing and operational support that led to the successful inspection.
“This shows the value of strong interagency cooperation in preventing illicit goods from reaching the market and protecting the interests of Filipino consumers and legitimate businesses,” Nepomuceno said on Wednesday.