BOC TAKES ACTION AGAINST CARGO FIRM FOR ABANDONED SHIPMENTS

BOC Files Criminal Complaints Against Cargo Firm Over Abandoned Balikbayan Boxes

MANILA � The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal complaints against officials of Makati Express Cargo Inc. after nearly 37,000 balikbayan boxes, mostly sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), were allegedly abandoned at major ports across the country.

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led the filing of the complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ). The abandoned shipment consists of 117 container vans carrying 36,826 balikbayan boxes that arrived through the ports of Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

According to the BOC, the containers were declared impliedly abandoned under customs regulations and are now considered forfeited in favor of the government. Authorities are pursuing legal action to hold those responsible accountable and to protect the interests of affected OFWs and their families.