7 container vans containing smuggled vegetables, tobacco products intercepted in Subic

Officials of the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Customs open 7 container vans with smuggled vegetables and tobacco products in the Port of Subic. P21 million worth of smuggled carrots and onions and P115 million worth of cigarettes were confiscated.

MANILA -- Officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs intercepted seven container vans containing smuggled agricultural products at the Port of Subic.

Five of the vans contained smuggled white onions and carrots, while two vans contained smuggled tobacco products.

The vans used frozen fish balls and tissues to cover the smuggled agricultural products.

Based on BOC estimates, the smuggled vegetables weighing 144 tons are worth P21 million, while the tobacco products are worth P115 million.

The containers were aboard the vessel SITC Licheng, which docked at the Port of Subic on August 15. According to the DA, the agricultural commodities were imported from China by Betron Consumer Goods Trading.

"They're clearly illegal smugglers and they're taking advantage of smuggling, they're doing smuggling to basically makaiwas ang taxes as far as tobacco is concerned," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

"Sa onions and carrots ay maka-take advantage sa presyo sa Pilipinas versus other countries which affects our farmers," he said.

(The smugglers want to take advantage of prices here in the Philippines compared to other countries, and this affects our farmers.)

The DA chief said show cause orders have been issued against the consignees, and that cases will be filed.

"Well, it's a clear sign to the smugglers that the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture are on top of the situation and we are scanning all the imports and reviewing all the performance of the importers even from their past trends," Tiu Laurel said.

BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said that samples from the seized vegetables will be tested to determine their suitability for human consumption.

The tests will check for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microbiological contaminants.

Recently, seized smuggled vegetables were proven to be harmful for human consumption.

P50 million worth of smuggled onions, agri products seized

Tiu-Laurel said the registered company will be blacklisted.)

Agri chief set to blacklist 4 companies tagged in smuggling fish, sugar, rice

At least 6 companies have been blacklisted from transacting with the Department of Agriculture due to illicit activities.

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