BOC, NBI seize over P500-M worth of smuggled agri products in Valenzuela City
MANILA — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have seized more than half a billion peso worth of agricultural products in a warehouse in Valenzuela City.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno and NBI-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) Director Emeterio Dongallo Jr. led the inspection at a warehouse in Bgy. Dalandanan on Tuesday, November 10.
Upon entering the cold storage facility, a strong smell of onions met the authorities.
According to Nepomuceno, based on BOC’s inventory, an estimated P524.27 million worth of several agricultural products are being kept at the facility. This includes 99,289 sacks of red onions with an estimated value of P372.3 million.
Nepomuceno said these products came from China, Argentina, Australia, Indonesia. India, Myanmar, and Egypt.
Other agricultural products include: 20,886 sacks of beans and legumes worth P103.7 million, 18,016 boxes of ginger and carrots worth P26 million.
Nepomuceno believes that based on their computation, the consignee should have paid duties and taxes worth not less than P168 million.
The consignees or those responsible for the shipment of the smuggled goods, if proven guilty, will be facing charges for violating the Anti-Agricultural and Economic Sabotage Act which is a non-bailable offense.
However, Nepomuceno refused to name who might be behind this shipment, saying the investigation and preparation of all necessary charges is still ongoing and now undergoing validation process.
“Hindi naman natin aabalahin ang hanapbuhay ng mga negosyante, provided may mga permits from the Department of Agriculture. Wala pa silang naipapakitang permiso hanggang ngayon lalong lalo na don sa carrots at mga luya na sa boxes pa lang galing ng abroad. ‘Pag galing ng abroad automatic yan ay nire-regulate ng DA upang masigurado na walang papasok na sakit ng agricultural products,” said Nepomuceno.
The consignee, Nepomuceno said, will still be given 15 days to present proper documents to prove that it went through all the legal process of importing said goods.