VALENZUELA CITY, Philippines — In a major multi-agency operation, Philippine authorities seized approximately P700 million worth of imported perfumes during a raid on two warehouse facilities on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The joint operation targeted Nicewheel Rubber Corp. and Haiwan Import/Export Corp., both located on Bonifacio Street in Barangay East Canumay, Valenzuela City.
The raid was led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in coordination with several key government agencies:
- Bureau of Customs (BOC): Exercising a Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno to inspect the premises for evidence of paid duties and taxes.
- Supporting Units: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Northern Police District (NPD), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also participated in the sweep.
- Information Source: The operation was triggered by intelligence from the Office of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government following a period of surveillance.
While the massive inventory was successfully confiscated, the primary targets of the investigation managed to evade arrest.
- Missing Suspects: Authorities are currently searching for a Chinese national identified by the alias “Allen” and another individual identified as “John Doe.”
- On-Site Witnesses: The warehouse caretaker and a security guard were present during the implementation of the LOA and assisted the raiding team in accessing the storage areas.
The seizure highlights the government’s ongoing effort to curb the entry of untaxed or counterfeit luxury goods.
- Consumer Safety: Beyond tax evasion, authorities have previously warned against the sale of unregistered perfumes, which may contain “reprotoxic” ingredients or other harmful chemicals not vetted by health regulators.
- Pending Charges: Criminal complaints are being prepared against the suspects for violations of Republic Act No. 7394, also known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The BOC and CIDG are continuing their investigation to trace the distribution network of these imported items and determine if the warehouses are part of a larger smuggling syndicate.