P18M smuggled onions declared as ‘soft tortilla wrap’ seized in Misamis Oriental
Six containers of smuggled red and white onions seized by BOC Port of Cagayan de Oro. (Photo from Bureau of Customs website)
MANILA, Philippines – P18 million worth of smuggled agricultural goods seized in Misamis Oriental, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cagayan de Oro said.
The BOC Port of Cagayan de Oro in a statement on Monday said they seized six containers of smuggled red and white onions in an anti-smuggling operation conducted at the Mindanao Container Terminal Port, Misamis Oriental.
BOC added that the operations was conducted on July 28, together with personnels from the Bureau of Plant Industry and Customs Examiners.
The shipments declared as “Soft Tortilla Wrap” arrived from China on July 23 consigned to Primex Export and Import Producer.
District Collector Elvira Cruz issued the pre-lodged control orders that subjected the six containers to a 100 percent physical examination, upon receiving derogatory information on the contents of the shipments.
It can be recalled that on July 22, three containers of smuggled onions were also seized by BOC.
READ: BOC intercepts smuggled onions worth P12 million at Misamis Oriental port
Cruz reiterated her warning against unscrupulous importers that agricultural smuggling can greatly affect locally produced agricultural products because it cannot compete with illegally imported agricultural products.
The Supervising Agriculturist of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Manuel Barradas, said that the only option to discard the smuggled agricultural products is to destroy it or return it to its origin, which is costly.
“We don’t know what pest and disease these might bring that would infect our other crops here in Mindanao,” Barradas said.
“This would also pose human risk because we don’t know what preservatives or chemical they used, this is a hazard to our consumers,” he added.
BOC Port of Cagayan de Oro said that they will issue a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the shipments for the violation of Section 1400 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. – Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net intern
