THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to maintain its vigilance together with its partner agencies in thwarting the smuggling of agricultural products to protect domestic producers after ₱35.4 million worth of onions and garlic were seized at a cold storage facility in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
Another shipment of fresh carrots and “assorted food products” worth ₱7.7 million loaded in four container vans were also subsequently seized at the Port of Manila (POM) bringing the aggregate value of confiscated agricultural goods to ₱43.1 million, the agency said.
Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag were accompanied by Enforcement Group (EG) Deputy Commissioner Nolasco Bathan, Manila International Container Port (MICP) District Collector Atty. Geoffrey De Vera, and other Customs officials during the inspection of the cold storage facility in Talavera last June 1 where they found rows upon rows of onions and garlic that allegedly came from Holland and China.
After validating the information earlier provided by the NBI, Collector De Vera last May 21 issued an ‘WSD’ (Warrant of Seizure and Detention) against the shipment consisting of 6,088 bags of small yellow onions from Holland, 1,080 bags of big yellow onions from China, 3,780 bags of big red onions from China, and 12,350 bags of garlic from China.
“Hindi natin hahayaan na kumita ang mga smuggler habang nalulugi ang ating mga magsasaka at nalalagay sa alanganin ang food security ng bansa.
‘This operation sends a clear message that the Bureau of Customs, together with our partner agencies, will continue to pursue those who undermine legitimate trade and exploit our agricultural industry,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
The successful interdiction supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen food security, safeguard the agriculture sector, and ensure strict compliance with customs and trade regulations, he added.
The shipment at the POM arrived last March 22 and March 25 in two batches and was immediately placed on alert by District Collector Rizalino Torralba based on derogatory information.
The actual inspection, witnessed by DCE Bathan, Collector Torralba, Intelligence Group (IG) Deputy Commissioner retired police major general Emmanuel Luis Licup, and Agriculture Assistant Secretary Willie Ann M. Angsiy, resulted to the discovery of 12,909 boxes of misdeclared fresh carrots and 1,452 boxes of egg noodles.
Targeting ‘Big Time Smugglers’
In a related development, Commissioner Nepomuceno said the BOC, the NBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to pool their efforts to cripple smuggling syndicates by now targeting the so-called ‘Big Time Smugglers.’
The Customs Chief made the announcement during the regular monthly Collectors’ Conference hosted by the Port of Aparri under Collector Segundo Sigmunfreud Barte more than a week ago.
“We cannot do this alone.
“Kailangan na magtulungan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno lalo na sa pag-iimbestiga at pagbuo ng kaso para masigurong napapanagot hindi lang ang maliliit na sangkot kundi pati ang mas malalaking tao at grupo na nasa likod nito,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said.
The NBI is already investigating all those involved in the smuggling incident in Talavera in relation to RA 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act that carries harsher penalties for those found involved in the smuggling of agricultural products.
The law classifies agricultural smuggling as ‘economic sabotage’ with no bail recommended for the accused.