The Bureau of Customs (BoC) in the Philippines has made a significant seizure, intercepting two Bugatti Chiron hypercars that were allegedly smuggled into the country. The recovery of the second vehicle comes after the owner surrendered the first, following an extensive search operation spanning several weeks.
Suspicions arose regarding the legitimacy of the two Chirons as they were believed to have entered the Philippines without the necessary taxes and importation documents. The BoC had issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) against both vehicles earlier this month.
Philippines Customs Confiscates Two Smuggled Bugatti Chirons Entered Without Proper Taxes/Importation Documents (Credits: Inquirer)
The owner, an unidentified foreign national, voluntarily turned over a red Bugatti Chiron after the Customs authority offered monetary rewards to individuals who could provide information leading to the location of these illegally imported luxury cars, valued at approximately $3 million each.
In a statement, Customs expressed satisfaction with the successful recovery, highlighting it as a testament to collaborative efforts. The agency emphasized its commitment to combatting all forms of smuggling and ensuring the integrity of the country’s borders.
Philippines Customs Confiscates Two Smuggled Bugatti Chirons Entered Without Proper Taxes/Importation Documents (Credits: Manila Bulletin)
An investigation revealed that the two smuggled Bugatti Chirons were not registered in the online Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), according to the service provider of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) portal. The company explained that the stringent security features of LTMS would have prevented their registration.
The pursuit of these high-end vehicles began after a viral video surfaced, showing the two Bugatti Chirons racing on roads in Muntinlupa and Cavite, each valued at $3 million. The BoC initiated its search following this publicized incident.
