Customs agents have seized a shipment of frozen scad worth P19 million at the Manila International Container Port.
Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Raniel Ramiro said his men from Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service intercepted the two 40-foot containers with the goods consigned to Hightower Inc. on Wednesday.
He said the importer described the shipment from China as frozen squid, a clear case of technical smuggling.
“Aside from illegal importation, the shipments’ owner will be held liable for violating Customs Memorandum Order 04-2020 for removing the Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo GPS Seal without the presence of proper authorities,” Ramiro said.
The E-TRACC device tracks the goods in real time and provides warning in case of unauthorized trips, tampering, deviation of vehicle from the authorized routes, or such events that are deemed suspicious based on the criteria determined by Customs.
Ramiro and other officials presented to reporters the smuggled shipment in a press conference at Glacier Megafridge Inc. on Amvel Business Park along Ninoy Aquino Avenue in Parañaque City.
MICP district collector Romeo Allan Rosales issued a mission order for the conduct of a full inventory of the goods at the cold storage facility in Parañaque.
The Customs bureau is currently heightening its alert against smuggled items intended for the holiday season.
The yuletide period is critical for Customs because unscrupulous traders will try to find the opportunity to sneak in their illegal goods in time with the high volume of imports at the ports.
Ramiro said they will continue vigilance against smuggling in the coming days to ensure that all duties and taxes are being paid for the increased volume of imports that arrive at the ports for the holidays.
Authorities advised importers to secure product registration and license to import and operate before bringing the articles into the country.
