Customs agents seized P125 million worth of smuggled rice at the Manila International Container Port on Monday.
The 50,000 sacks of rice came from Thailand and were processed by customs broker Diosdado Santiago. The shipment arrived on June 14 without the necessary import permit from the National Food Authority, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said in a statement.
The shipment was consigned to Sta. Rosa Farm Products Corp., a rice importer with a pending case before the Department of Justice for supposedly importing 200 containers of rice without the required documents, Lapeña said.
He said the rice would be auctioned off after it is tested and found fit for human consumption.
The Bureau of Customs has filed smuggling charges against five traders and warehouse owners over a foiled attempt to spirit into the country agricultural products, fake branded cigarettes, rice, sugar, used clothing and other highly taxable items.
Lapeña said the filing of charges against the traders and importers is in line with the strict directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to intensify the drive against smugglers and violators of customs laws.
Charged were Justine Lim, operator of the warehouse located at Tondo, Manila where various fake cosmetic products and fake perfumes such as Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Polo Sport, Georgio Armani, and Clinique Happy were found; Erlinda D. Rico a.ka. Linda Chua, owner of the other three warehouses at Toctocan St., and Kanlaon St. in Quezon City, and Sta. Cruz, Manila where counterfeit Marlboro, Fortune, Mighty and Winston brand cigarettes, Silka products, Cetaphil, Knorr pork cubes, and Knorr Sinigang sa Sampaloc mix were discovered by customs agents. Vito Barcelo
Also charged were Kaidar Ismael and Rowena Pasiloc. Ismael was the owner of Al-Khong Trading, while Pasiloc was a licensed customs broker.
The total amount of seized fake products amounted to more than P206 million, Lapeña said. Vito Barcelo