BOC files smuggling cases over agri imports

Bureau of Customs (BOC) | FILE PHOTO

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday said it has already filed at least 33 cases over alleged smuggling of agricultural products, amounting to over P250 million, since the start of the year.

In a statement, the BOC said that from January to date, the Bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers filed 33 cases before the Department of Justice against 33 importers and 11 customs brokers for unlawful importation of agricultural products. Of the 33 cases, 22 were filed for violation of Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling of 2016.

The BOC noted that of these numbers, nine cases were against nine importers and five customs brokers filed under the administration of Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, who said that this was due to the BOC’s intensified border protection measures.

It added that the agricultural products involved in the cases have a total dutiable value of P251.61 million, with duties, taxes and fees amounting to P107.19 million.

‘Fixated on imports’

According to Ruiz, the measures being undertaken by the bureau to fight smuggling include strengthened risk profiling and inspection of shipments and warehouses.

Meanwhile, an activist fishers’ group on Thursday questioned the government’s “fixation” on importing galunggong (round scad) when it could “pose health risks to consumers.” Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) warned that imported galunggong “are frozen and inferior in quality” compared to our fresh local fish.

“Why is the government so fixated on flooding our local market with imported fish products that are inferior in quality, being frozen, at the expense of our local fishers and the public health of consumers?” asked Pamalakaya spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo.

Pamalakaya urged the government to consider local fishes that it said have the “same protein benefits and are more affordable,” including freshwater fish, such as tilapia and bangus, and salt water fish, such as tulingan, dalagang bukid, asuhos and salay-salay.

The group aired its criticism after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it is planning to import 25,000 metric tons of fish to ensure adequate fish supply this closed fishing season.

The BFAR has already approved the importation of frozen round scad, big-eyed scad, mackerel, bonito and moonfish from November to January 2023.During closed fishing season, corporations are barred from fishing for three months to allow fish to repopulate.

BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit head Nazario Briguera said that closed fishing season is a “conservation measure” toward fish sufficiency.

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