THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said its operatives have seized an estimated P841 million worth of suspected counterfeit products in a raid at a warehouse in Valenzuela City.
Customs authorities said the raid was initiated based on intelligence information saying the warehouse was being used to store large volumes of counterfeit imported items.
Operatives from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) conducted surveillance and on-site validation to confirm the alleged illegal activities.
Armed with a Letter of Authority, a joint enforcement team swooped down on the warehouse on April 10.
During the inspection, authorities discovered thousands of suspected fake branded products packed inside the facility.
The inventory showed a total of 1,460 boxes of perfumes and 364 boxes of lotions bearing labels of internationally known brands.
Among the brands allegedly copied were Jo Malone, Versace and Cetaphil, along with several other popular consumer products.
Customs officials said the shipment may have violated provisions of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, particularly those covering infringing and counterfeit goods.
Possible violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, including seizure and forfeiture provisions under Section 1113 in relation to Section 1400, are also being investigated.
The warehouse was immediately sealed and secured by customs personnel with assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard to prevent the unauthorized movement of the goods.
Authorities later issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention on April 28, 2026, as investigators continue tracing the source and distribution network behind the counterfeit products.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended MICP District Collector Geoffrey de Vera, CIIS-MICP operatives and partner enforcement agencies for the successful operation, stressing that intelligence-driven enforcement remains key to dismantling smuggling and counterfeit trade operations under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. WILLIAM DEPASUPIL
