Government agents raided a warehouse in Malabon City and seized smuggled vegetables and other agricultural products worth more than P4.7 million.
The Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS) raided the storage facility located along Gov. Pascual Avenue in Barangay Catmon based on the Letter of Authority and Mission Order signed and issued by Customs Commissioner
Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Nov. 11.
The seized agricultural products include broccoli, carrots, and red onions suspected to be smuggled from China.
The MICP-CIIS led by its chief intelligence officer Alvin Enciso conducted the operation with the help from the Coast Guard, Department of Agriculture, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Trade and Industry, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
“Our mandate has always been to clear our ports of all kinds of smuggling. Recently, we’ve been getting information about smuggled fruits and vegetables, which we have been acting upon diligently,” Enciso said.
“As I’ve said earlier, smuggling agricultural products into the country is very personal to a lot of our countrymen since we depend heavily on our agricultural industry,” he added.
The raiding team discovered at the facility seven reefer vans used as temporary cold storage of the vegetables. Of the seven containers, three were loaded with smuggled broccoli, carrots, red onions, and other imported products.
The authorities invited a number of warehouse personnel for questioning.
Guerrero commended the team for the latest successful operation, saying that the bureau must put in place measures to secure certain industries and sectors.
He assured the public that his agency will remain vigilant in protecting the country against the entry of smuggled agricultural products.
The government has intensified its border security measures against agricultural smuggling following reports that illegally imported vegetables are being sold openly in public markets.
Last month, the MICP-CIIS men also 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.