Customs to auction off five smuggled sports cars worth P29-million

Early in its incumbency, the administration seemed to adopt a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to smuggled goods, particularly vehicles. Expensive yet misdeclared luxury cars intercepted at the ports would invariably meet a very gruesome and public end, as they were crushed and sent to the scrap heap. 

Seized luxury cars won't be going to the junkyard for now

With the ongoing pandemic still requiring as much financial resources as we can gather, the government finally realized that there’s a better use for confiscated smuggled vehicles. The Bureau of Customs (BoC) announced that it will be auctioning off five seized sports cars, with the proceeds going towards COVID funds. 

In a statement issued on December 2, the Bureau of the Treasury said that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III instructed the BoC to dispose of the vehicles by conducting a public auction. To this end, the two agencies together with state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) signed a memorandum of agreement forming an inter-agency auction committee to oversee the disposition of the seized cars. 

The lot will have a collective floor price of Php 29 million, and will comprise the following: 

• 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK350, with a floor price of Php 1,247,505
• 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK55, with a floor price of Php 1,324,364
• 2011 Mercedes-Benz E220, with a floor price of Php 1,491,559,000
• 2001 Porsche Boxster, with a floor price of Php 1,797,546,000
• 2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia, with a floor price of Php 23,225,124

If the most expensive car in the lot sounds familiar, it’s the same Ferrari that became the subject of a recent YouTube video. Peter Seo, a self-confessed car enthusiast, claims that the car was stolen as he was having it shipped from Japan to Korea, and has pledged to donate the Ferrari for government use if it can be saved from being destroyed. The video has since been taken down as of this writing. 

The controversial Ferarri F430 Scuderia once offered to the government is included in the lot

Interested bidders, whether individual or corporate entities, may register with the BoC until December 9, 2021. All vehicles may be viewed at the Manila International Container Port premises in South Harbor, Port Area, Manila until December 10. The auction will start on December 13, livestreamed over the official Facebook pages of the BoC, Treasury, and LandBank.  

All cars will be sold on an as is, where is basis, so you might as well manage your expectations this early.       

There’s no need to bid in getting our relevant mobility updates at Philkotse.com.