BOC to probe P125-M smuggled rice seized off Zamboanga Sibugay

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has announced that it would launch an investigation into the P120-million smuggled rice seized by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in a cargo ship off Zamboanga Sibugay.

In a statement on Thursday, BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said that the PCG Southwestern Mindanao already turned over the smuggled rice for further investigation at Port of Zamboanga.

“The custody of the seized cargo is now in the Bureau of Customs. We will conduct further investigation to know the real origin of the smuggled rice, the sender and the consignee if it is really intended for consumption in the Philippines,” Lapeña said.

“It’s only the first week of the month yet these unscrupulous traders are really trying their luck. We will strengthen our information sharing and cooperation with other border patrol agencies to ensure our border is free from smuggled goods,” he said.

READ: PCG seizes P120-M smuggled rice off Zamboanga Sibugay

The 60,000 undocumented sacks of rice were confiscated from a local cargo ship MV J-Phia some 25 nautical miles southwest of Olutanga town in Zamboanga Sibugay on Sunday morning.

After the PCG inspected the ship and its cargo, authorities apprehended the captain, Rogelio Necessario, after he failed to show safety certificates, shipping documents and import permit.

According to the PCG, Necessario claimed the last port of call was in Cagayan de Oro, but no record of departure was presented. The PCG said the ship may have come from Vietnam and transferred illegal cargo in Sulu.

Lapeña said the owner of the ship and the cargo would face smuggling charges for violating Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.