Smuggled sugar confiscated

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized P5 million worth of illegally imported sugar at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said Friday.

Biazon said members of the BOC Intelligence Group (IG) intercepted three container vans with 1,521 bags of refined sugar after the shipment arrived from Singapore on Feb. 21.

“We will seize all illegal importations, no matter how often we need to do that, until the resources of smugglers are depleted and exhausted,” Biazon said.

“We will also aggressively pursue the filing of cases against all those involved in smuggling,” he added.

Biazon said the smuggled sugar actually came from Thailand and Malaysia but were shipped to the Philippines via Singapore.

He said the shipment’s consignee, Classical Star Commercial, misdeclared the sugar as pistons, gas combustion VLinear cylinders, and aircon machine parts and accessories to avoid securing the required sugar import permit from the Sugar Regulatory Authority.

Biazon lauded the BOC Intelligence Group, which is under Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim, for the successful seizure of the smuggled sugar.

“The notable accomplishments of the IG are products of its operatives’ commitment and dedication for work. Clearly, the BOC officials and employees’ renewed commitment and dedication for work such as the one displayed by the IG cooperatives shall be the BOC’s best weapon against smuggling and corruption in the Customs industry,” Biazon said.