P8.4-M illegal shipment of Thai oranges seized

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) stopped on Thursday a shipment of oranges from Thailand worth P8.4 million at the Manila International Container Port for lacking the required permits from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry.

The BOC said the 3,200 cartons of fresh oranges did not have the mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance, leading to their seizure.

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The oranges, which were inspected by representatives from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, X-ray Inspection Project and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, were also checked for drugs although none was found.

The shipment will undergo condemnation proceedings to ensure that the goods will not enter local markets. —JANE BAUTISTA