Over PHP6 million worth of illegally-sourced smartphones from China have been seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from a warehouse in Manila.
BOC Chief Rufino Biazon said the hot items were recovered from the Safeway Warehouse in Manila after they received a tip that units of the Cloudfone Thrill 430X cell phones have been smuggled into the country. The phones are reportedly worth over PHP 6 million at market value.
Customs also arrested Narciso Briones and John Bernardion, employees of Windfreight Express Total Logistics, and charged them with unlawful importation and fraudulent removal or concealment of warehoused articles before a Manila court.
The Customs chief likewise said that the phone units will be auctioned off in order to generate funds for the bureau, the Philippine Star reported.
