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Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the blacklisting of two consignees of P9 million worth of smuggled sugar. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

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DA chief orders blacklisting of consignees of P9M smuggled sugar

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1748503359639smuggled sugar.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the blacklisting of two consignees of P9 million worth of smuggled sugar. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) — Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday ordered the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to blacklist two consignees of smuggled sugar with an estimated retail value of P9 million.</p><p>Tiu Laurel Jr., SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio inspected the four containers of refined sugar on Thursday.</p><p>The two container vans arrived from Vietnam in January, while the other shipment arrived in the Port of Manila on April 29 from Thailand.</p><p>&quot;Yung bagsakan nito usually punta siya sa manufacturers. Then if they want malaki kita diretso retail po yan... Most likely [sa Metro Manila] since dito siya dumating,&quot; Azcona explained.</p><p>(These usually go straight to manufacturers. Then if the smugglers want a bigger profit, they can go straight to retailers... most likely those in Metro Manila.)</p><p>The DA identified the importer as the Lapaz Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which it said does not have a permit or import allocation from SRA. It also does not have a clearance to release imported sugar. </p><p>The two container vans from Vietnam also contained refined sugar, instead of the declared sweetener mix. DA said the cargo has been abandoned by Yabai OPC, the consignee on record. </p><p>Customs Commissioner Rubio said the two consignees will face charges for violation of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, for importing without clearance and for misdeclaration.</p><p>&quot;Yung white sweet powder yung galing pong Vietnam, it was declared as a sweetener, sweet mix powder yung declaration niya. But found to really contain sugar,&quot; Rubio said.</p><p>(The white sweet powder from Vietnam was declared as a sweetener but was found to contain sugar)</p><p>&quot;Tapos yung isa, it was declared as refined sugar but wala siyang karampatang permit from SRA po,&quot; he added.</p><p>(The other shipment was declared as refined sugar but there was no permit for it.)</p><p>Customs previously seized similar products from a consignee in Subic, bringing the total of recently blacklisted consignees to three. </p><p>Tiu Laurel said he has ordered tests to see if they are fit for human consumption for potential distribution.</p><p>&quot;Ang gusto ni Presidente kung may mahuli at pwede pamigay sa tao, ipamimigay sa tao. But binanggit din ni Commissioner kanina, based sa Anti-Agri Smuggling Act... Sa pagkaintindi namin the law says it must be condemned. But I have instructed yung legal to check,&quot; he added. </p><p>(The President wants seized goods to be distributed to the people, but we have to check if that is allowed under the Anti-Agri Smuggling Act.)</p><div><strong>CIGARETTES FROM TAIWAN</strong></div><p>Customs has also confiscated a container of smuggled cigarettes from Taiwan that had been misdeclared as fabrics.</p><p>He identified the consignee of the P81-million shipment of cigarettes as I&amp;C KR Manufacturing Philippines Corp..</p><p>The Customs chief said they are investigating the consignee and will file appropriate charges.</p><p>Last year, the DA, through its Inspectorate and Enforcement Office seized P2.83 billion worth of smuggled farm goods.</p><p>From January until May 19, 2025, the DA-IE has confiscated and condemned smuggled goods worth P407.6 million.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNKLlYmHPo4?&amp;ab_channel=ANC24%2F7autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to blacklist two consignees of smuggled sugar worth about P9 million.</p>

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to blacklist two consignees of smuggled sugar worth about P9 million.