The Bureau of Customs (BOC) mentioned Sunday it carried out 709 seizures, confiscating smuggled items with an estimated worth of P24.28 billion as of early January.
“Ito po ‘yung mga smuggled goods from illegal drugs, hanggang sa fuel oil… kasama po ‘yung agricultural products and counterfeit goods,” mentioned BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. on Super Radyo dzBB.
Of the quantity, P12 billion in unlawful medicine have been seized, P7.69 billion in counterfeit items, and P1.87 in agricultural merchandise.
Dela Torre added that many of the confiscated agricultural merchandise got here from China.
“Out of 709 seizures, 137 ang agricultural product na nasabat natin… karamihan ng mga nakadeklara na papeles ay frozen food. Itong huling nahuli natin, idineklarang fish ball pero in fact, onions ang nasa loob,” mentioned the BOC spokesperson.
Earlier this yr, the BOC seized P17 million price of smuggled yellow onions discovered inside three containers declared to be clothes and residential merchandise from China.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who sits because the concurrent Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, earlier warned that the federal government will go after people concerned in agricultural smuggling.
DA dialogue
Meanwhile, Dela Torre mentioned that the DA held a collection of conferences and dialogues with the BOC to deepen and strengthen the hassle in opposition to the illicit commerce of agricultural merchandise.
“Pagdating sa validation at clarification sa mga permit issued by the DA, at sa BOC, ‘yung listahan ng mga consignee, sa stage pa lang ng accreditation, may koordinasyon na tayong ibinibigay sa DA,” he mentioned.
“Pinalakas rin natin ang intelligence and enforcement capabilities natin… pagdating sa pagpo-profile to support ‘yung risk management natin, talaga naman pong mas maayos na nai-implement natin ngayon,” he added.
According to Dela Torre, the Agriculture Department had offered focal individuals to quickly validate issued permits.
“Bukod sa online verification, mayroon din tayong personal na pagtawag… ‘yung koordinasyon ng bawat ahensya ay nailugar natin para mas effective po na makahuli tayo,” the BOC official mentioned.
Moreover, Dela Torre mentioned they instantly difficulty a warrant of seizure and detention for agricultural merchandise with out permits.
“Sina-subpoena natin ‘yung mga consignee at broker ng mga party na involved,” he furthered. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
