Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Balikbayan Box Company Owners meet US Homeland Security Officers
Balikbayan Box Company Owners meet US Homeland Security Officers
Manny Paez
Manny Paez
There will be a significant numbers of balikbayan boxes that will not reach their recipients in the Philippines
Despite the strict US New York December 10, 2010 .
Charges have been filed against Lucia Chicco, the registered importer of the smuggled goods.
US Homeland Security’s Out-Bound Examination Team is mandated by law to examine out-bound shipments and implement various rules and regulations of US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, and US Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms among other agencies.
Their inspection varies from the use of x-ray machines and other detecting instruments to physically unloading the whole container and opening each balikbayan boxes.
When a container gets devanned for inspection, the inspection takes a week to a month resulting in delays in sailing. Balikbayan boxes will be physically opened and inspected. Contrabands will be seized in accordance with United States Code Title 19, 1594 and Title 22, 401. Violators will be fined and/or prosecuted accordingly. The shipper is also responsible to pay the cost of inspection.
A community out-reach meeting was held last December 10 at Salakot Restaurant in Los Angeles hosted by Filipino American Shipper’s Association and the officers of the US Homeland Security Out-Bound Examination Team attended by Unit Chief Commander Tapia, LCdr Dagostino, and Officer Nasri.
Balikbayan Box company owners assured the US Homeland Security Unit of their cooperation in preventing the transportation of contrabands thru balikbayan boxes.
Strict documentation of the contents of the box will be implemented. Each shipper is required to present their government issued identification card.
There will also be a campaign to inform customers the items that they are looking for which include but not limited to currency, precious metals, copyright items, hazardous materials, weapons, guns, and significant military equipments that includes weapon sling, holster, handle, scope and any weapons parts. A detailed list can be found at http://www.manilaforwarder.com/restrictions.html
Filipino American Shipper’s Association members also pointed out that there are some mix-up during the inspection and the US Homeland Security Inspectors assured the members that they will implement a new system on how they conduct the inspection to prevent such from happening again.
They also asked the FASA members to inform their client that the inspection will continue until the violations stops.
The inspections cost an additional expense of an average of $10 per box and will most likely to be passed to consumers.
Charges have been filed against Lucia Chicco, the registered importer of the smuggled goods.
US Homeland Security’s Out-Bound Examination Team is mandated by law to examine out-bound shipments and implement various rules and regulations of US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, and US Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms among other agencies.
Their inspection varies from the use of x-ray machines and other detecting instruments to physically unloading the whole container and opening each balikbayan boxes.
When a container gets devanned for inspection, the inspection takes a week to a month resulting in delays in sailing. Balikbayan boxes will be physically opened and inspected. Contrabands will be seized in accordance with United States Code Title 19, 1594 and Title 22, 401. Violators will be fined and/or prosecuted accordingly. The shipper is also responsible to pay the cost of inspection.
A community out-reach meeting was held last December 10 at Salakot Restaurant in Los Angeles hosted by Filipino American Shipper’s Association and the officers of the US Homeland Security Out-Bound Examination Team attended by Unit Chief Commander Tapia, LCdr Dagostino, and Officer Nasri.
Balikbayan Box company owners assured the US Homeland Security Unit of their cooperation in preventing the transportation of contrabands thru balikbayan boxes.
Strict documentation of the contents of the box will be implemented. Each shipper is required to present their government issued identification card.
There will also be a campaign to inform customers the items that they are looking for which include but not limited to currency, precious metals, copyright items, hazardous materials, weapons, guns, and significant military equipments that includes weapon sling, holster, handle, scope and any weapons parts. A detailed list can be found at http://www.manilaforwarder.com/restrictions.html
Filipino American Shipper’s Association members also pointed out that there are some mix-up during the inspection and the US Homeland Security Inspectors assured the members that they will implement a new system on how they conduct the inspection to prevent such from happening again.
They also asked the FASA members to inform their client that the inspection will continue until the violations stops.
The inspections cost an additional expense of an average of $10 per box and will most likely to be passed to consumers.
The public is also encouraged to provide information on shipments of contraband by contacting the US Homeland Security at (310) 971-22-00.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
My balikbayan box was inspected by US Homeland Security
United States and the Philippines has been allies in war against Global Terrorism. In fact even before Osama Bin Laden, we have been helping each other for years.
However, a rotten apple usually affects the whole basket. This is what's happening now in balikbayan box shipping.
One balikbayan box sender who abused the system and sent an illegal item via balikbayan box will affect everyone.
No matter what balikbayan box company one used, they were mostly subjected to rigid inspection by US Homeland Security conducted here in the United States. The inspection caused delays and extra expenses on the part of the shipping company. The inspection charges varies from one thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars. Who's paying for this? legally, the shipper is responsible for the inspection charges. That is, you and me who shipped balikbayan boxes.
I know it's the law and for everybody's benefit.
Please share your stories here:
However, a rotten apple usually affects the whole basket. This is what's happening now in balikbayan box shipping.
One balikbayan box sender who abused the system and sent an illegal item via balikbayan box will affect everyone.
No matter what balikbayan box company one used, they were mostly subjected to rigid inspection by US Homeland Security conducted here in the United States. The inspection caused delays and extra expenses on the part of the shipping company. The inspection charges varies from one thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars. Who's paying for this? legally, the shipper is responsible for the inspection charges. That is, you and me who shipped balikbayan boxes.
I know it's the law and for everybody's benefit.
Please share your stories here:
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