Smuggled onions declared as pastries seized

More hot onions, which arrived from China were confiscated, this time in Cagayan de Oro port, where customs agents seized 50,000 kilos or P20 million worth of contraband that was declared as “bread and pastries.” The Bureau of Customs said these were discovered on Dec. 21 following a spot-check of two containers that arrived on Dec. 6 at Mindanao Container Terminal Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. Instead of bakery products, the inspection yielded red onions. Warrants of seizure and detention were issued against the shipments for misdeclaration in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act as well as regulations of the Department of Agriculture related to the importation of agricultural products. —Ronnel W. Domingo