The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have intercepted more than P7 million worth of smuggled fresh carrots concealed inside shipments falsely declared as processed food products, dealing another blow to agricultural smuggling operations that authorities say threaten both consumers and local farmers.
The discovery was made during a joint inspection conducted by the DA’s Inspectorate and Enforcement Office (DA-IE), the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and the BOC at the Port of Manila.
Authorities found 12,909 boxes of fresh carrots valued at more than P7 million hidden behind cartons of egg noodles inside four (4) container shipments that arrived on March 22 and March 25, 2026 under one consignee.
The shipments had been declared as assorted food products, including egg noodles, flat noodles, soya wrappers, fish tofu, and wakame salad. However, inspectors uncovered the undeclared vegetables during a physical examination of the cargo.
The operation was led by DA assistant secretary for inspectorate, enforcement and legal service Willie Ann Angsiy, together with BPI assistant director Ruel Gesmundo and customs officials.
Inspectors also found that a significant portion of the carrots had already deteriorated, showing visible signs of mold, decay, and root damage. Authorities said the condition of the vegetables rendered them unfit for human consumption and highlighted the public health risks posed by illegally imported agricultural products that evade proper inspection and quarantine procedures.
Beyond food safety concerns, the DA warned that smuggled vegetables can inflict serious damage on local producers by depressing market prices and creating unfair competition.
“Kung lumabas ito sa market, mas maibebenta nila ng mas mura, which means mapapatay nila ang negosyo ng ating local farmers o posibleng hindi na makabenta ang local farmers dahil mas mura itong smuggled. Hindi makakapag-compete ang farmers natin kasi una, wala silang binabayarang duties,” Angsiy said.
Agriculture officials noted that smugglers gain an unfair advantage by avoiding import duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements, enabling them to sell products at prices that legitimate traders and local farmers cannot match.
The shipments have been forfeited in favor of the government for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
In addition, the DA and BPI are preparing charges under food safety and agricultural regulations against those responsible. The agencies have also agreed to blacklist the consignee from importing products into the country and are conducting further profiling to identify individuals and entities linked to the operation.
Authorities said the licenses, registrations, and accreditations of the parties involved will be revoked.
The seizure underscores the government’s intensified campaign against agricultural smuggling as the DA ramps up enforcement efforts to protect consumers, preserve fair competition, and safeguard the livelihoods of Filipino farmers from the damaging effects of illicit imports.
