THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized at the Port of Manila 19 containers of frozen mackerel worth P202 million declared as fried taro.
The seizure was made after an inspection conducted by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., and Customs district collector Alexander Gerard Alviar.
The confiscated 4o-foot container vans came from China and were detained since last Jan. 20, after the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS-POM) requested both intrusive and non-intrusive examinations on the shipment.
President Marcos earlier highlighted the necessity for more robust enforcement actions to dismantle smuggling operations that jeopardize local businesses and disturb market equilibrium, Rubio said.