MANILA: The Bureau of Customs today sued for smuggling the importer of 48 container vans bearing Canadian municipal solid waste that were misdeclared as plastic scraps.
Sued before the Department of Justice (DOJ) were Nelson Manio, owner of Live Green Enterprises, which holds office in IE 5 M.A. Roxas Highway, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. The 48 container vans entered the Philippines through the Clark Freeport.
Under the Customs Law, homogenous plastic scrap materials can enter the country provided they secure pre-shipment importation clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)
In misdeclaring its shipment, Live Green Enterprise allegedly violated Sections 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 1994-28 entitled “Interim Guidelines in the Importation of Recyclable Material Containing Hazardous Substances.”
The 48 container vans were discovered after a Customs inventory of overstaying cargo conducted last May.
Import documents show the exporter is a certain Demetrios Jim Makris of Chronic Inc. Canada, the same exporter of the 55 container vans of heterogeneous wastes discovered last year consigned to Chronic Plastics.
Customs already filed similar charges against the owner and Customs brokers of Chronic Plastics last February 2014. The case is pending with the courts.
Waste analysis by the EMB last June 3 showed the container vans contain non-hazardous municipal solid wastes of used mixed and unsorted or heterogeneous wastes, including household and street garbage.
“This is a wakeup call for all of us. It is very clear that these waste materials were shipped to the Philippines illegally. That is why we have filed the necessary case against Live Green Enterprises, to make sure that those responsible for importing these waste materials be punished in accordance with the law,” said Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina.
“Aside from filing charges, we are making sure that the Customs accreditation of companies engaged in the importation of heterogeneous wastes like Live Green Enterprise and Chronic Plastics are cancelled,” he said.
