The Bureau of Customs sued six people for attempted smuggling of at least 413 Casio G-Shock watches woth P7.4 million through Balikbayan Boxes.

Complaints of violating the Tariff and Customs Code were filed against Zenaida Valencia, Jennifer Valencia, Edward Ochave, Clarisse Karingal, Genevieve Ochave and Edmund Discutido before the Justice Department.

The six Balikbayan Boxes arrived from Bahrain last August through Forex U-Mac Bahrain and its counterpart, U-Mac Forex Cargo Philippines declared as personal effects such as shoes and clothing, beddings, groceries, candies and chocolates.

The Intelligence Group caused a 100 percent physical inspection of the boxes, revealing the watches inside.

The misdeclaration was intended to evade payment of duties and taxes amounting to over P1-million, the bureau said.

“While we recognize that the Balikbayan Box is vital to millions of overseas Filipinos and their families in the Philippines, we cannot allow the abuse and misuse of this privilege to bring in goods of commercial quantity or contraband items,” said Commissioner John Sevilla.