Tons of suspected smuggled agriculture products seized in Navotas

SMUGGLED GREENS Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (second from left) and Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (right) inspect around P30-million worth of suspected agricultural products found in warehouses in Navotas City. With them are Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Mayor John Rey Tiangco. —Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized from two cold storage units in Navotas City millions of pesos worth of agricultural products believed to have been smuggled into the country during a joint operation conducted last week with the Department of Agriculture.

“Inside the storage units, authorities found significant quantities of onions, carrots, tomatoes, enoki mushrooms, Chinese noodles and Chinese kimchi. These goods were allegedly stored without proper payment of duties and taxes owed to the government,” the BOC said in a statement on Monday.

One of the storage units contained 132.75 tons of white onions valued at P21.2 million, while the other housed 89.89 tons of imported carrots worth an estimated P13.48 million.

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The BOC also reported finding 360 kilos of tomatoes, 10 kilos of enoki mushrooms, and 92.25 tons of imported white onions in a 40-foot container van. Their total estimated value was not disclosed.

According to the BOC, it received a tip from a confidential informant that led to a surveillance operation targeting a compound suspected of keeping smuggled agricultural products.

With the help of the Northern Police District-Navotas Police Station and local barangay officials, the team inspected on Aug. 15 and discovered the two cold storage units containing the illegal goods.

LOA refused

According to Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso, the warehouse owners, representatives, lessees, lessors, or occupants refused to accept the letter of authority (LOA) issued by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

“Because the warehouse representatives refused to acknowledge the LOA, they resorted to forcing open the inner gate door of the cold storage and container doors,” Enciso said.

Following the raid, the BOC reported that its agents promptly sealed the warehouse doors to secure the confiscated items.

The owners and representatives of the cold storage facilities could face charges for violating Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) and Sec. 117 (regulated importation) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the BOC said.