MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. reported on a Laging Handa presser on Wednesday that the agency has racked up at least P1.2 billion worth of aBogricultural products or a total of 105 seizures of smuggled goods into the country since January this year.
“A total of 105 seizures of agricultural products were conducted from January 2022 up to the present. These have an estimated value of PHP1,205,000,000,” BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. said in a Laging Handa presser.
More than half of the seized shipments, particularly onions, came from China.
“The most common declaration of consignees is foodstuff, foods or ingredients for making spring rolls, patties, churros, steamed buns, breads, pastries, lobster balls, and crab sticks,” said dela Torre, who is also Customs Operations chief.
De la Torre said as of Dec. 14, the BOC Action Team Against Smugglers (BATAS) has filed 100 criminal cases before the Department of Justice against importers and Customs brokers involved in smuggling and for violating Customs laws, rules, and regulations as well as laws with regard to agricultural smuggling and also on safety standard.
They also filed 21 administrative cases before Professional Regulation Commission against erring Customs brokers.
“The BATAS has filed 33 cases before the Justice Department of Justice against 33 importers and 11 Customs brokers for unlawful importation of agricultural products. Out of the 33 cases, 22 were filed for violation of Republic Act Number 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling of 2016,” he said.
“The subject of the cases filed by the Bureau has a total dutiable value of PHP251 million, with duties and taxes fees in the amount of PHP107 million,” dela Torre added.
Meanwhile, he said the contraband will be destroyed or sent back to the country of origin and is prohibited for public consumption.
“The confiscated agricultural products are destroyed and are often buried on the ground. Under the rules of the Department of Agriculture (DA), these smuggled agricultural products must be destroyed, edified on land, or returned to the country of origin, they cannot be sold, or even donated since we make sure the safety and health of our people,” he said.
He said it is also likely that these are contaminated with bacteria and other pathogenic organisms.
“The suggestion for it to be sold or donated depends on the recommendation of the DA. But most of the time, it’s being destroyed or buried on the ground,” he added. (Jeb Israel/With reports from PNA)