Government agents uncovered an estimated P5 million worth of vegetables and fruits, suspected to have been smuggled from China, during inspections of three warehouses in Manila on Tuesday, January 16.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) initiated the operation after numerous complaints from local traders in Benguet, who have suffered from poor sales of produce due to smuggled goods, even during the holiday seasons.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the government takes a firm stance against smuggling to safeguard the interests of local farmers and ensure fair competition in the market.
“We hear you. That’s what we want to say to our vegetable farmers and traders. We assure you that we are going after these groups and we are being diligent in prosecuting them, so they cannot victimize our hard-working farmers again. This is why we are committed as ever to come after these smuggling groups—it is our farmers, our economy, and our consumers that we aim to protect with these operations,” he said.
Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service at the Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) with help from the National Bureau of Investigation -Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) went to three warehouses—one in San Nicolas and two in Binondo—to implement the Letters of Authority (LOAs) issued and signed by Rubio.
CIIS director Verne Enciso said the composite team inspected the warehouses and found fresh imported broccoli worth an estimated P2 million in the San Nicolas storage.
The team also discovered a warehouse of WSH Trading in Sto. Cristo Street in Binondo. It contained fresh imported vegetables and fruits—including bell pepper, garlic sprout, volcanic sweet potato, cauliflower, lotus root, corn, spinach, romaine, mushroom, oranges, strawberry, grapes, pear, melon, kiwi, apple, longan, and cherry tomato—worth more or less P2 million.
Another storage in El Cano Street, also in Binondo, yielded cauliflower, yam, water bamboo, lotus root, spinach, tomato, baby cabbage, crown daisy, and apple worth an estimated P1 million.
“These were just the initial assessment of the value of these goods. There will be a thorough inventory and inspection of the goods found to determine the exact value, so we can file the appropriate cases against the owners of the warehouses and the companies and people behind these smuggling activities,” Enciso said.
BOC examiners will conduct the inventory of the goods to be witnessed by agents from CIIS and the respective warehouse representatives.
Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy stressed the agency’s dedication to following the orders of President Marcos in protecting the country’s borders against the illegal entry of smuggled products.
“I believe I speak here for everyone when I say we are equally frustrated by reports from farmers and traders that their Christmas sales were severely impacted by smuggling. Anti-smuggling operations go through a long and rigorous process, but this process also ensures we will put these perpetrators in courts and behind bars,” he said.
Rubio said they will file legal action against the warehouse owners and entities implicated in the smuggling operation.
They will be given 15 days to present the proper documents to clear themselves of allegations they were storing illegally imported vegetables and fruits.
If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Section 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
This operation highlights the government’s ongoing battle against smuggling activities that have long been a sore point affecting the country’s agricultural economy.
With Vito Barcelo
