BOC files complaint vs 2 traders for smuggling in China onion, garlic

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs filed on Thursday smuggling charges against two businessmen at the Department of Justice months after they were caught illegally bringing into the country onions and garlic from China valued at a whopping P19 million.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon was at the DOJ office to file the complaints against Rady Garbosa and Carlos Uy, who both did not have the required government permits for their shipment.

They were charged with violation of Sections 101 and 3601 of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines and Section 2, Rule II, of the Bureau of Plant Industry Quarantine Administrative Order No. 1.

Garbosa, who owns RSG Marketing, was found to have misdeclared his P10 million shipment of onions as fresh pears. His shipment arrived in five 40-footer container vans at the Manila International Container Port on August 2.

The government regulates the importation of onion to protect local onion raisers.

On the other hand, Uy, who owns Agua Blue Marine Trading, brought in his garlic shipment through four 40-footer container vans valued at P9 million at the Port of Manila last June 27.