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Customs nets P178M in smuggled mackerel at Manila port

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Lady Vicencio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1730264988700Smuggled-Mackerel.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Customs and Agriculture personnel inspect part of a shipment of smuggled mackerel seized at the Manila International Container Port in Manila. <em>Lady Vicencio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Bureau of Customs has intercepted 21 containers of frozen mackerel smuggled at the Manila International Container Terminal.</div><p>The shipment was flagged on October 16 after discovering it did not have a sanitary phytosanitary import clearance required for agricultural imports.</p><p>“Initially, it was thought eight to 10 containers lang ang darating. When we checked our system, there were 21 containers,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/17/boc-seizes-tanker-lorries-involved-in-paihi-modus-2354">READ: BOC seizes tanker, lorries involved in &#x27;paihi&#x27; modus</a></div><p>Initial investigation showed the shipment came from China and was imported by a company owned by a Chinese national working with directors who are Filipinos. </p><p>Since the shipment did not have clearance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the smuggled fish should be sampled to ensure food safety.</p><p>Visual inspection also showed the seized fish was “glazed” to add weight to the product.</p><p>“‘Yan ang trick ng ibang mga processor o mga negosyante para pagbigatin ‘yong isda para maibenta nila ng mas mahal pero 10 to 15 percent less ang laman nito kasi meron siyang thin layer ng tubig na naka-frozen, so daya ‘yon,&quot; Laurel said.</p><p>(That is a trick by some processors and traders to make the fish seem heavier so they can sell it at a higher price, but that it actually 10 to 15 percent lighter because there is a thin layer of ice. That is how they cheat)</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1730265036737GbHI8p1b0AAk7uA.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.said the fish had been &quot;glazed&quot; with a thin layer of ice to make them seem heavier than they really are. <em>Lady Vicencio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/30/customs-seized-over-p1b-worth-of-illegal-vape-products-in-8-months-1430">READ: Customs seizes over P1B in illegal vape products in 8 months</a></div><p>The agriculture chief added that some importers may try to take advantage of the closed fishing season starting November 1.</p><p>Laurel assured the public there will be no fish shortage despite the ban since the DA has allocated importation of 30,000 tons of fish.</p><p>“Siguro nagbabaka-sakali itong mga loko-lokong negosyante na iniisip nila tataas ang presyo ng isda, magkaka-shortage kaya sila nagsusubok ipasok ito,” Laurel said.</p><p>(Maybe these traders were thinking fish prices would go up and there would be a shortage, so they tried to slip this shipment in)</p><p>The DA said it is keen on filing cases against the importer in violation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.</p><p>The DA is looking at distributing the seized boxes of mackerel to areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine if found safe to eat.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/27/wrap-volunteers-donations-help-buoy-kristine-response-amid-widespread-flooding-1857">WRAP: Volunteers, donations help buoy Kristine response amid widespread flooding</a></div><p>“Wala naman tayong nakikitang shortage. Actually, bonus lang ito para sa nutrisyon ng mga tinamaan ng bagyo,” Laurel said.</p><p>(We do not foresee a shortage. Actually, this might help with the nutritional needs of people affected by the storm)</p>

<p>Initial investigation showed the shipment came from China and was imported by a company owned by a Chinese national working with directors who are Filipinos.</p>

Initial investigation showed the shipment came from China and was imported by a company owned by a Chinese national working with directors who are Filipinos.