The Bureau of Customs destroyed P300 million worth of seized smuggled and knock-off Louis Vuitton, Channel, Gucci, La Coste, Breitling, Ballenciaga, and Hermes luxury items on Monday.
The bureau said because of the seizure of the high-end contraband, “thousands of jobs and unsuspecting consumers may have been saved from the ill effects of piracy and smuggling.”
The goods were confiscated in a series of raids in Binondo, Manila over the last three weeks.
“We will not allow the Philippines to be a dumping ground of counterfeit goods, if only to enhance the country’s competitiveness as an investor friendly nation. The BOC, on this aspect, will ensure that the interests of foreign investors like distributors of authentic high-end brands are protected,” Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon said.
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