BOC seizes smuggled onions, garlic in Zamboanga del Sur

A Customs personnel inspects a bag of allegedly smuggled red onions seized in a checkpoint in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Nov. 24. PHOTO FROM BOC

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Two delivery trucks carrying sacks of smuggled onions and garlic were apprehended by authorities on Wednesday morning at a checkpoint in Barangay New Labangan, Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) district collector Irvin Ho said the drivers of the two wing-van type trucks told them that the goods came from Cagayan de Oro City and were set to be delivered to traders in Pagadian and Zamboanga cities.

Upon closer inspection of the cargoes, Ho said that they discovered several packs of allegedly imported onions and garlic mixed with other locally produced goods and vegetables.

In the presence of personnel from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), the BOC team at the checkpoint seized some 151 sacks of red onions and 121 sacks of garlic.

These were impounded at the DA-BPI compound for proper disposition.

Michael Lanza, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Section chief of BOC-Zamboanga District said the drivers face charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Republic Act 10845 for agricultural smuggling.

The seized items are estimated to be valued at P190,400.