PASAY CITY, Philippines — Inspection teams from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) raided two car shops that were allegedly selling luxury vehicles online, which included a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maybach and Maserati sports cars worth an estimated ₱1.4 billion.

The raid was done by operatives of the BoC's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) following reports that smuggled luxury vehicles were being sold online in two showrooms in Pasay City and Parañaque.

The raided establishments were named as the AC Che Gong Miao in Pasay City and TopCar Specialist and Trading Incorporated in Parañaque, both of which the BoC had been monitoring since early this month.
Acting on letters of authority and mission orders from Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, CIIS personnel under its director Verne Enciso conducted the raids.

“This operation signals a new approach in the Bureau’s strategies to go after smugglers and ensuring the collection of rightful revenues due the government,” Rubio cited.

At AC Che Gong Miao’s warehouse, authorities found units of Ferrari LaFerrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Range Rover, Bentley, Alphard and Jeep Wrangler. On the other hand, found in the warehouse of TopCar Specialist were Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Ferrari SF90 Stradale and Mansory, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Maybach and BMW.

Owners of the two showrooms and those involved in the business were given by the authorities 15 days to provide proof of tax payments for the seized vehicles. Failure to comply could result in charges of violating Sections 1400 and 1401 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.