The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines has launched a vigorous search for two smuggled Bugatti Chiron super sports cars valued at an astounding P330 million. These 2023 model sports cars, one blue (with plate number NIM 5448) and one red (with plate number NIM 5450), have been spotted frequently in various areas including Muntinlupa, Pasig, Pasay, and Cavite.
According to the BOC, these high-end vehicles, each with a value of P165 million, were unlawfully brought into the country without the requisite importation documentation. Shockingly, these cars are registered to two Chinese nationals and were openly advertised on online marketplaces and social media platforms, flagrantly flaunting their illegal status.
Taking swift action, the BOC has issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention for the two vehicles. Deputy Commissioner for Customs Intelligence Group, Juvymax Uy, revealed that the agency received information in November 2023 regarding the illicit entry of these vehicles without undergoing regular customs clearance. Subsequently, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) initiated a comprehensive case build-up, culminating in the confirmation by the Management Information System Technical Group (MISTG) on Nov. 28, 2023, that the motor vehicles lacked any import documents.
Appealing to the public for assistance, BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso urged individuals to report any sightings of the vehicles. Informants or whistleblowers will be rewarded with cash incentives equivalent to 20 percent of the actual revenue collected, the bureau assured.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted when Senator Raffy Tulfo raised concerns about the alleged failure to pay customs duties and taxes by the owner of these two high-end vehicles during the plenary debates for the 2024 proposed budget of the BOC. Tulfo, citing social media sightings, claimed one car was located in Pasay City, while the other was in the Ortigas area. He emphasized that based on the market value of the vehicles, the owner should have paid government taxes amounting to P6 million.
The hunt for these illegally imported Bugatti Chiron super sports cars underscores the BOC’s commitment to upholding customs regulations and combating smuggling activities. With the cooperation of the public and the diligent efforts of enforcement agencies, the BOC aims to bring these perpetrators to justice and safeguard the integrity of the country’s borders and revenue systems.