Smuggled agri products worth P34M seized

P34 million worth of smuggled agricultural products were seized

Onions misdeclared as egg noodles, spring rolls and dumplings were seized at the Port of Manila

MANILA, Philippiens – Local authorities seized P34 million worth of smuggled agricultural products at the Port of Manila on Tuesday, July 1.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) intercepted six container vans carrying imported onions and mackerel.

According to these agencies, consignees declared the cargo from China as egg noodles, spring rolls, and dumplings but turned out to be agricultural goods.

Latinx Consumer Goods Trading was the listed consignee for two vans carrying onions, while the other four—one with yellow onions and three with mackerel—were consigned to Lexxa Consumer Goods Trading.

A joint inspection revealed that three of the six 40-foot containers were loaded with approximately 74 metric tons of fresh red onions valued at around P10.3 million.

One container had yellow onions valued at P3.82 million, while two others frozen mackerel with an estimated value of between P13 million and P20 million.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said another 59 containers from five companies in Subic were being held and will be inspected./tad