P54-M worth of ‘misdeclared’ sugar from China seized – Customs

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday confiscated P54-million worth of sugar declared as construction materials from China.

In a statement, BOC agents seized the Korach-conditioned refined sugar at the Port of Manila which arrived in August and September this year.

The shipment from China was consigned to RZTREC and TRACLEF Trading.

After the inspection of the seized containers, it was discovered that the products were not sugar but steel, tex, screw, clamp, nails and hardware fittings stored inside 48 containers.

The BOC said it issued warrants of seizure and detention of the shipment for violation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

For this year alone, BOC-Port of Manila confiscated P314.506 million worth of “misdeclared” products which was 17.28 percent higher than 268.161 worth of seized goods last year.