The Bureau of Customs has foiled an attempt to smuggle over 30,000 sacks of refined sugar declared as something else at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Thursday led the examination of 58 containers that yielded sacks of improperly declared refined sugar with an estimated value of P150 million.
District Collector Marites Martin issued pre-lodgment control and alert orders following derogatory information from the Department of Agriculture (DA) about the shipment.
“A warrant of seizure and detention shall be issued against the subject containers for violation of Section 1400, about Section 1113 (f) of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Sugar Regulatory Authority and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002,” Customs said.
Also, the bureau examined two containers of squid rings where they found several assorted frozen meat products valued more or less P40 million.
Customs will also issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the two containers of frozen meat for violation of pertinent provisions of the CMTA.
“The BOC continues to maximize its intelligence resources and intensify enforcement measures to thwart all attempts of smuggling, especially those involving agricultural products that negatively impact our local farmers and businesses,” Rubio.
“It has always been a priority of the BOC to protect local consumers against the health hazards posed by these illegally imported goods,” he added.
