Over 100 smuggled used cars seized; 2 Pakistanis arrested

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Authorities arrested two Pakistani nationals for allegedly smuggling secondhand vehicles into the Philippines.

In an exclusive "24 Oras" report by John Consulta on Tuesday, officials from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Bureau of Customs, and the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided two separate compounds in Tagum City and Digos City in Davao.

The team found around 150 smuggled minivans and mini pickups without proper documentation. Officials arrested two Pakistani nationals who have allegedly been long involved in illegal activities.

“Meron kasing mga foreign nationals na nag-i-import at nagbebenta ng mga sasakyan na galing abroad at walang papel at right-hand drive,” LTO Chief Markus Lacanilao said.

(There are some foreign nationals who import and sell cars from overseas, and they do not have the right papers, and they are right-hand drive.)

They were declared as a “rebuild”, Lacanilao said. Under the law, there could be vehicle components that could be brought in for rebuilding. However, the LTO chief said that they received information that the smuggled cars were coming in intact.

The LTO said that these cars were dangerous to be sold to regular consumers.

“Kapag tayong Filipino, nakabili nito, at hindi pala maayos ang mga papeles, na-aksidente, kawawa yung nakabili. ‘Di rin maayos ang pagko-convert,” Lacanilao said.

(If this is bought, and the papers are not proper, and there is an accident, the buyer loses. It was not converted properly.)

The two foreign nationals face several charges, including economic sabotage, according to Lacanilao. —Jean Mangaluz/NB, GMA News