The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it has turned over seized counterfeit goods worth P1.8 million to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) last week, in line with its efforts to stop the proliferation of fake goods in the country.

The BOC-Intellectual Property Rights Division said the fake products were destroyed in line with Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. The importation of fake goods is prohibited under RA 8293.

The various counterfeit goods destroyed were fake shoes, watches, and soaps which were seized by the BOC from various areas and ports as a result of its continuing efforts to secure the country’s borders.

Also destroyed were fake cigarettes, bags, wallets, phones, phone accessories, shirts, belts, as well as CDs and money chips.

“The BOC will remain steadfast in securing our borders and in protecting the local consumers against fake and hazardous goods,” Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said in a statement.

The Ceremonial Destruction of Counterfeit and Pirated Goods was hosted by the IPOPHL-National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights.

Last week, the BOC-Port of Zamboanga reported that it was able to seize smuggled cigarettes worth P35 million—the biggest in the history of the port.

The seizure was made through the combined efforts of the Port of Zambonga, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“The seizure of the smuggled cigarettes, which were found in the vicinity of the waters off Lower Calarian, Zamboanga, is the biggest successful operation in the history of the port,” the BOC said.

On April 9, the Philippine Navy intercepted watercraft MJ Andrea I containing 1,159 cases of smuggled cigarettes from Indonesia for delivery to Lower Calarian, Zamboanga City.

The shipment will be subjected to the issuance of Warrant of Seizure and Detention in the absence of the National Tobacco Administration permit and for violation of Executive Order 245, or the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing the Exportation and Importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products, as well as in violation of RA 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.