Trader faces raps for ‘hot rice’ cargo

A CEBUANA trader was charged for her alleged involvement in the smuggling of P1.2 billion worth of Vietnam rice seized at the Cebu port last March 31.

Jane Mabano of MMSM Trading was charged by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) after she was identified as one of the eight alleged consignees of the rice housed in 1,169 container vans.

Cebu District Collector Edward dela Cuesta said all eight consignees are from Cebu.

“They are from Cebu but I don’t know if they are still existing or not,” he added.

MMSM Trading allegedly mis-declared 532 vans worth P354 million by stating that they contained granite, stone and ceiling insulator slabs.

Dela Cuesta said the Customs office in Cebu prepared the documents and the warrant of seizure of each consignee and submitted it to the BOC’s Run-After-The-Smugglers (RATS) task force.

“There is a memorandum nationwide that the RATS will handle the smuggled cases,” he said.

The preliminary investigation of the seized P1.2 billion of smuggled rice was conducted by the intelligence group of former Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim and results will be submitted to RATS for further investigation.

Dela Cuesta said the task force will then submit its findings to the DOJ which will file charges against the consignees.

BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon warned all importers and traders against engaging in smuggling. Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag