P15.5 million smuggled ‘agri’ products seized in Manila, CdO

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized some P15.5 million worth smuggled agricultural products during separate operations in Tondo, Manila and at the Port of Cagayan de Oro.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Rainiel Ramiro, in his report to Commissioner

Rey Leonardo Guerrero, said pro-active measures taken by customs intelligence and police operatives at the Port of Cagayan de Oro resulted to the discovery of shipments of red and white onions loaded in four container vans at the Cagayan de Oro port last July 19, 2022.

Acting on the field information report provided by Intelligence Division that the arriving shipment from China contain agri products, district collector, Atty. Elvira Cruz, issued a ‘Pre-Lodgment Control Order’ (PLCO) as early as July 13, 2022, against the four containers consigned to ‘Primex Export and Import Producer’ which was declared as ‘spring roll patti’ to misled the authorities.

The value of the foiled shipment was placed at P12 million.

On the other hand, actual examination of another shipment at the port proved negative for smuggled agri products.

Only last July 7, 2022, Primex was also caught trying to bring in P15 million worth of red and white onions thru the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental (Pinoy Exposé, July 12, 2022).

In a separate operation at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila on July 18, 2022, Alvin Enciso, Manila International Container Port chief intelligence officer, reported to Ramiro the successful discovery of imported red and white onions, garlic, mung beans and ginger inside.

Guerrero had earlier issued a ‘LOA’ (letter of authority) to the customs team headed by
Enciso to visit the premises after prior intelligence gathering in the area proved that the above goods are openly being sold in the vicinity of the warehouse.

The team temporarily placed padlocks and seals on entrance and exit gates of the warehouse prior to the conduct of a proper inventory by the BOC.

The two seizures are on top of the more than P284 million worth of smuggled agricultural goods that the BOC has seized thus far during the first half of 2022.

Meanwhile, at the Subport of Iligan, Lanao del Sur, customs operatives, jointly with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), announced the seizure last July 12, 2022 of 650 reams of smuggled cigarettes in Bgy. Matampay, Balagabagan.

Subport collector, Nasrudin Guro, placed the value of the seized products at P187,500. He also assured that the Port shall continue to fulfill its mandate of protecting the country’s borders against the proliferation of illicit goods.

At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, another drug claimant was arrested in Cebu City on July 18, 2022, after receiving a shipment of 2,894 pieces of ‘Ecstasy’ declared as ‘women’s clothing.’

Value of the seized drugs was placed at more than P5 million.

NAIA district collector, Carmelita ‘Mimel’ Talusan, noted their strong partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that resulted to 31 drug-related busts in 2019, 43 drug busts in 2020, and, 57 drug busts in 2021.