By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

Bradley Kumangai said that based on the review of records and reports from the Division of Customs and records from FFC Video Shop and New Juice City Unlimited found one customs entry form, in which the company allegedly declared 60 cartons of cigarettes for which no tax was paid.
The affidavit said that as a result the Division of Customs had formed a Special Task Force to investigate the matter.
According to the Custom Investigator Landsis Recheluul on March 15, 2006 he saw Fredrick Lazano or Boyet or FFC Video Rentals/General Merchandise arrive for cargo inspection.
Recheluul asked to review the documents for FFC Video Rental and noticed that Custom entry form (CO-2) No. 027696 listed 60 cartons of cigarettes.
According to the investigation, the documents were cleared and stamped "paid" for customs officer Shiro.
The affidavit said that custom officer Steve Pasqual recounted the cigarettes and cofirmed that there were 60 cartons.
The affidavit said that later that day, Rechuul again reviewed all documents for cargo that day and came across CO-2 no. 027696 for FFC Video Rental which declared no cigarettes.
Rechuul then confronted Shiro about the discrepancy, Shiro then admitted it and asked if could contact Veron to make the payment .
The affidavit said that at about 12 noon on the same day, Shiro informed Recheluul that Veron had paid the import tax for the cigarettes.
Veron reportedly paid $1,200.
When the Office of the Special Prosecutor interviewed Veron, he allegedly said that on two occasions he made payments to Shiro in return for not assessing taxes for cigarettes imported by his shop.
Veron told the OSP investigators that either in January or February 2006 , he reportedly met with Shiro at the airport who told him he would not assess taxes for FFC’s cigarettes if Veron paid him some money.
Veron said that his shipment included 40 cartons of cigarettes which are taxed at $20 per carton.
The affidavit said that Shiro instructed Veron not to declare the cigarettes on the CO-2 form and Veron paid Shiro $400 for not assessing taxes on 60 cartons of cigarettes.
The affidavit said that after making the payment to Shiro, the Customs detected their arrangement and confiscated the items.
The affidavit further added that on Jan. 31, the investigator interviewed Gloria De Leon who works for New Juice City remittance.
De Leon told the investigator that Shiro approached her and allegedly offered a deal where he would not assess taxes in return for payments to Shiro.
De Leon told the investigator that Shiro was reportedly paid three times for not assessing taxes on cigarettes.
The affidavit said that Shiro in his statement admitted that he received $600 from FFC Video Rental and $300 from NJCU remittance and $3,000 from H.E. Speed Remittance. A Custom Officer is facing charges of bribery and misconduct in public office.
Based on Criminal Case No.07-047, Alson Shiro is facing five counts of bribery and five counts of misconduct in public office for allegedly failing to assess import taxes on cigarettes.
According to the affidavit of probable cause executed by Office of Special Prosecutor Investigator