Photo by: Bureau of Customs
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC), in coordination with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has uncovered an estimated ₱700 million worth of suspected counterfeit imported footwear during a joint warehouse inspection in Imus City, Cavite, underscoring the government’s intensified campaign against smuggling and intellectual property rights violations.
The operation, conducted on August 3, 2026, stemmed from intelligence information provided by the PNP-CIDG Cavite Provincial Field Unit, which reported the alleged presence of imported goods suspected of violating customs and intellectual property laws.
Acting on the report, the Bureau of Customs immediately issued a Letter of Authority (LOA) and deployed a composite enforcement team to inspect the warehouse.
The joint inspection was carried out by personnel from the BOC’s Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) of the Ports of Batangas, Manila and the Manila International Container Port (MICP), the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the Legal Service, together with representatives from the PNP-CIDG Cavite Provincial Field Unit, PNP Imus Component City Police Station, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Photo by: Bureau of Customs
During the inspection, authorities discovered thousands of pairs of imported footwear bearing internationally recognized trademarks, including Adidas, On Cloud, New Balance, Asics, Crocs, Nike, Jordan, Puma, Converse, Skechers, and Louis Vuitton (LV). Based on the initial inventory and valuation, the seized goods have an estimated market value of ₱700 million.
BOC Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno commended the CIDG and other partner agencies for their prompt intelligence sharing and close operational coordination, emphasizing the importance of a unified government approach in combating illicit trade.
“Sa ngalan ng Bureau of Customs, nagpapasalamat tayo sa CIDG at sa iba pa nating partner agencies sa kanilang mahalagang impormasyon at pakikipagtulungan. This shows the value of strong inter-agency cooperation in preventing illicit goods from reaching the market and protecting the interests of Filipino consumers and legitimate businesses,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
The Bureau said the operation demonstrates the government’s sustained efforts to curb the proliferation of counterfeit products, which undermine legitimate enterprises, deprive the government of lawful revenues, and expose consumers to potentially substandard and unsafe goods.
The warehouse inspection forms part of the Bureau’s continuing enforcement initiatives to strengthen customs compliance, safeguard intellectual property rights, and dismantle supply chains involved in the illegal importation and distribution of counterfeit merchandise.
The BOC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reinforce border security, suppress smuggling, protect intellectual property rights, and promote fair and competitive trade as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s business environment and economic security.