P202.5M worth of smuggled agri-fishery products seized in Manila port in January
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A total of P202.5 million worth of agri-fishery products were seized by authorities at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) in January, the Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed on Tuesday.
The DA said the products were contained in 24 container vans consigned to Asterzenmed Inc. and Seaster Consumer Goods Trading and were seized in separate operations.
Out ff the 24 containers, nine belonged to Seaster Consumer Goods, which were found to contain fresh red and white onions with a total estimated market value of P77.8 million.
Meanwhile, on Jan. 23, authorities seized three containers consigned to Asterzenmed Inc. carrying fresh yellow onions, red onions, potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes with an estimated market value of P24.4 million, the DA said.
This was followed by the confiscation of three containers loaded with red onions, imitation crab sticks, and frozen boneless beef, with a total estimated market value of P31 million.
The DA said another inspection of three Asterzenmed Inc. containers resulted in the confiscation of P24 million worth of red onions and assorted meat products, while P21.5 million worth of smuggled assorted meat products was confiscated from the inspection of three other container vans.
On Jan. 27, two container vans containing potatoes and fresh yellow onions with an estimated value of P23.6 million were also seized.
The goods, which originated from HongKong, China, have no Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance, the DA said.
“Consistent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to safeguard the welfare of Filipino farmers and fishers and make locally grown agricultural produce more competitive, the DA continues with the campaign against agricultural smuggling,” the agency said in a statement.
It added that the misdeclared and misclassified goods were seized through the combined efforts of the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, together with partner agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
