A TEAM from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) uncovered P35 million worth of spoiled assorted meat products in a warehouse in Meycauayan, Bulacan on July 11.
The composite team, led by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), found two improvised cold storage facilities with spoiled meat products in Meycauayan Industrial Subdivision, Barangay Pantoc, Meycauayan, Bulacan.
An inspection discovered that the stored pork and beef products already appeared spoiled and emitted foul odor.
“Since the owners or building administrator were not present during the service and implementation of the Letter of Authority (LOA), raiding team proceeded to the subdivision’s homeowners’ association to effect the substituted service thereof,” CIIS Director Verne Enciso said.
In the presence of two barangay officials, the homeowners associations’ administrative staff received the LOA on-behalf of the owner/operator of the the subject warehouse.
According to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, officials from the Department of Agriculture’s Inspectorate and Enforcement (DAIE) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) were present during the operation.
“The DAIE and the NMIS also did initial evaluation of the meat products and, based on the physical appearance and foul odor thereof, the said meat products are determined to be unfit for human consumption,” he said.
Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio hailed the close coordination between the BOC and DA, and thanked the barangay and HOA officials who cooperated during the service of LOA and inspection of the subject warehouse.
“Generally, we don’t see the amount of work that goes into every inspection and operation. This is a testament to the hard work of our agents, and it was entirely made possible by the coordination of our officers with the DA and down to the barangay,” he said.
The recent inspection shows the BOC’s steadfast commitment to safeguard public health and its continued intensified border control and security measures to curb smuggling in furtherance to the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
