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The Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture inspected nine warehouses in Bulacan storing suspected smuggled rice worth an estimated P661 million
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The operation followed reports alleging improper payment of duties and taxes for imported rice
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Around 249,500 sacks of rice were discovered during the operations in Bocaue and Balagtas
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To prevent market disruption, the BOC allowed the warehouses to continue operations under strict monitoring
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Warehouse owners have 15 days to provide proof of correct duty and tax payments
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) inspected on December 16 nine warehouses in Bulacan storing suspected smuggled rice worth an estimated P661 million.
The operations in Bocaue and Balagtas were initiated after reports of derogatory information surfaced alleging the warehouses were harboring imported rice without proper payment of duties and taxes, the BOC said in a statement.
A multi-agency team comprising personnel from the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Enforcement and Security Service, and DA Inspectorate and Enforcement, supported by the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and barangay officials, found approximately 249,500 sacks of rice.
Customs commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., attended by members of the House of Representatives, facilitated a dialogue with warehouse owners on December 18 to provide them an opportunity to present documentation and clarify the legitimacy of their operations.
Rubio said the inspections, conducted under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), are a regular part of the BOC mandate to ensure proper tax compliance.
The issuance of Letters of Authority (LOA) is part of the agency’s mandate to inspect premises suspected of storing smuggled goods, he added. The LOA authorizes customs officers to demand evidence of payment of duties and taxes on imported goods openly for sale or kept in storage, as provided under Section 224 of the CMTA.
To mitigate any impact on rice supply during the holiday season the BOC, backed by the agriculture department, allowed warehouses to continue operations under strict monitoring.
Warehouse owners were given 15 days to submit proof of proper tax and duty payments. Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions as outlined by customs regulations.
BOC said the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s directive to combat agricultural smuggling and safeguard local food security. The effort comes on the heels of the forfeiture and donation of P178 million worth of frozen mackerel on December 14.
“These coordinated efforts demonstrate the government’s resolve to combat agricultural smuggling while ensuring that essential commodities like rice remain available and affordable for all Filipinos,” BOC said.
