THREE ranking Customs officials were charged with graft before the Ombudsman yesterday for smuggling luxury vehicles and car parts into the country.

The Finance Department brought the charges against Manuel Algerre, Percito Lozada and Erwin Xander Bautista, all assigned to the Port of Manila.

Their case was the second filed by the Finance Department this year. Last month, the department also filed administrative and criminal cases against Customs official Camilo Cascolan Jr. for smuggling in cars on May 23, 2007. Lawrence Agcaoili