Smuggling raps filed against sugar, rice importers

MANILA- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Friday filed criminal charges against several importers for allegedly smuggling sugar and rice into the country.

Officers of Red Star Rising Corporation and Sta. Rosa Farms were slapped with criminal charges over illegal importation, the BOC said.

Red Star officers Dante Lunar, Leonardo Mallari, Richel Llanes, August Templado, and Bernie Rubia were charged for the alleged illegal importation of sugar worth P21.55 million.

The BOC said three shipments of sugar were misdeclared as packaging materials, kitchen utensils, and kraft paper by the company.

Sta. Rosa Farms officers Jomerito Soliman, Dolores Opancia, Mary Grace Cayanan, Marileen Avañez, and its licensed customs broker Diosdado Santiago were also slapped with the same charges for allegedly importing 50,000 sacks of rice valued at P120.7 million.

The shipments did not carry the necessary National Food Authority (NFA) import permit, the BOC added.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña also warned smugglers of agricultural products of the BOC's continued crackdown.

"The Bureau will continue its current pursuit to eliminate the smuggling of these agricultural products and bring behind bars all those who would be found liable for these unlawful activities," he said in a statement.