Authorities seize smuggled carrots, ginger in Manila

A Customs officer inspects vegetables in sidewalk stalls after the Bureau of Customs received a report that smuggled agricultural products were being sold in local markets. (Photo from BOC)

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities confiscated smuggled carrots and ginger that are being sold in Divisoria and Tondo in Manila.

According to the Bureau of Customs (BOC), 100 kilograms of imported carrots from China and 90 kilograms of imported ginger were confiscated and brought to the BOC premises on Tuesday.

The produce were seized after the BOC’’s Intelligence Group received information that smuggled imported agricultural products are being sold in Divisoria and in Tondo.

A joint team from the Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, the Department of Trade and Industry, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Economic Intelligence Sub Task Group on Food Security then inspected stalls along the roads and sidewalks in the said areas.

The team also inspected stalls at the Balintawak Public Market in Quezon City to verify information that smuggled agricultural products are also allegedly being sold there.

However, no smuggled agricultural products were found during the inspection.

The BOC said the confiscations of the smuggled vegetables are covered by a warrant of seizure and detention in accordance with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

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/MUF