BOC spearheads Divisoria raid; boxes of smuggled carrots seized
INTELLIGENCE and enforcement operatives of the Bureau of Customs last April 19, 2022, spearheaded another joint anti-smuggling operation at the Divisoria market in Manila where boxes and cartons of smuggled carrots and gingers were confiscated.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Rainier Ramiro said the operation by the Economic Intelligence Sub-Task Group on Food Security (EI-STG) again descended at Divisoria over reports that traders and distributors of smuggled agricultural products, mostly from China, are back in business.
On receiving the information, Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero immediately issued MO no. 04-18-2022-187, authorising the team members to make inspection of retail stores and sidewalk vendors and confiscate any suspected smuggled agri products. Head of the BOC contingent is Alvin Enciso, customs intelligence chief, Manila International Container Port (MICP).
The EI-STG is composed of representatives from the BOC, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
Specifically, the team inspected stores and vendors in the areas of Divisoria, C.M. Recto Avenue and, Tondo.
Overall, some 100 kilos of smuggled carrots and ginger were confiscated, based on the post-operation report received by Ramiro.
No arrest was made as onlookers and those questioned denied ownership of the smuggled vegetables.
Tuesday’s early morning operation was the second time this April that the EI-STG raided Divisoria for smuggled vegetables openly being sold, after the operation last April 5, 2022.
