Customs seizes 300 tons of agri products

MORE than 300 tons of assorted agricultural products were seized by Bureau of Customs (BoC) authorities in a raid on two cold storage facilities in Navotas City.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said on Monday that the operation was a concerted effort between Customs and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Acting on intelligence information received from a confidential informant, BoC and DA personnel launched a surveillance operation targeting a compound suspected of harboring smuggled agricultural products.

Found inside the cold storage facilities were a variety of agricultural products with an estimated value of P50 million.

Authorities found significant quantities of onions, carrots, tomatoes, enoki mushrooms, Chinese noodles and Chinese kimchi allegedly being stored without proper payment of duties and taxes to the government.

Customs agents immediately sealed the warehouse.

“This successful operation is a testament to our relentless effort to crack down on the smuggling of agricultural products,” Rubio said.

Of the two cold storage facilities, one contained 132.75 tons of white onions, valued at P21.2 million, while the other had 89.89 tons of imported carrots, worth at least P13.48 million.

Also seized were 360 kilos of tomatoes, 10 kilos of mushrooms and 92.25 tons of imported white onions in a 40-foot container van.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso said that the warehouse owners, representatives, lessees, lessors, or occupants refused to receive the Letter of Authority (LOA) issued by the commissioner.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. leads the inspection of smuggled agricultural products in Barangay Bangkulasi in Navotas City on Monday, August 19, 2024. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

“Because the warehouse representatives refused to acknowledge the LOA, the [authorities] resorted to forcing open the inner gate door of the cold storage and the doors of the container [van],” the official said.

Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, whose team received and verified the information, lauded the operation and underscored the importance of a whole-of-government approach to curbing smuggling.

“Coordinating with relevant agencies ensures the safety of our markets and consumers. These operations are crucial in driving the message to these organizations that our intention is to pulverize them to the ground,” he said.