The government has intensified its border security measures against agricultural smuggling following reports that illegally imported vegetables are being sold openly in public markets.
In the recent meeting with the Department of Agriculture, Customs officials agreed to allow personnel of the department to have access to the X-ray scanning areas of the bureau to ensure full transparency in the conduct of inspection of agricultural products.
The Customs bureau will also allow the agency to get all relevant information to validate shipments suspected of agricultural smuggling. The said information includes the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) and the Inward Foreign Manifest, among others.
Also, an agreement towards a strengthened anti-smuggling coordination was established where derogatory information and intelligence information may be quickly shared and acted upon by each agency.
Last week, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service operatives assigned at Manila North Harbor seized P50 million worth of onions and other illegally imported items during a raid in Meycauayan, Bulacan.
Raided was the warehouse owned by Elite Globus Primeholdings Corp. located at Bahay Pare Road, Sitio 4 in Barangay Bahay Pare.
Aside from 2,000 sacks of imported red onions, boxes of frozen seafood and health and beauty products were also discovered at the establishment.
The red onions were hidden inside concrete fish tanks and covered with styrofoams to conceal and hide the said agricultural products.
“We’ve been intensifying our efforts against the illegal importation of agricultural products because this has a direct impact on our farmers and fishermen. Without a doubt, this is something that the bureau is focused on now that the pandemic is pushing our fellowmen into poverty,” said Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro.
The CIIS men also raided recently two warehouses on Carmen Planas and Bilbao Streets, both in Manila after confirming that three market stalls got their imported vegetables from the subject establishments.
The authorities found imported red onions, carrots, ginger, garlic, broccoli, red and yellow onions at the establishments.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who issued the Letter of Authority that served as the basis for their operations, commended his men.
“Smuggling of agricultural products is very personal to a lot of Filipinos who rely on the local production of these items to put food on their tables. For us here, it has also become a mission to ensure that our borders are safe and secure especially during these times,” Guerrero said.
The so-called anti-social goods like unsafe vegetables and meat and other products intended for the holiday season are expected to arrive this “ber months.”
Lawmakers are also investigating the proliferation of smuggled carrots and other vegetables.