BOC foils smuggling of red onions from China

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has foiled an importer’s attempt to smuggle into the country P10 million worth of red onions from China.

According to the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, the two shipments, consigned to Flevo Trading and declared to contain white onions, were seized at Manila International Container Port on Saturday.

The BOC said it received information that the shipment contained red onions and lacked the required permits from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“Usually no import permit is issued for red onions to protect local farmers,” the BOC said.

—TINA G. SANTOS