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The Bureau of Customs and Department of Agriculture have seized 63 metric tons of smuggled agricultural products in Navotas City
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Following a tip from a confidential informant, agents from the BOC’s Port of Manila-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the DA conducted a surveillance operation on a warehouse in Dagat-dagatan, Navotas City
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Upon a joint inspection on August 15, two cold storage units yielded a variety of imported onions, carrots, tomatoes, pickled radish, and egg noodles without proper payment of duties and taxes
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The warehouse owner has 15 days to refute the findings and provide documents proving the legitimacy of the imports according to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Department of Agriculture (DA) have seized 63 metric tons of smuggled agricultural products in Navotas City.
Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, agents from the BOC’s Port of Manila-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the DA conducted a surveillance operation targeting a compound in Dagat-dagatan, Navotas City.
With support from the Northern Police District and local officials, the officials inspected on August 15, 2024 two cold storage units which held a variety of imported onions, carrots, tomatoes, pickled radish, and egg noodles whose customs duties and taxes have not been paid.
After confirming the intelligence information, BOC agents sealed the warehouse to secure the agricultural products. The operation was supported by the Business Permit and Licensing Office of Navotas City, SWAT teams, and barangay officials, ensuring full enforcement and coordination on-site.
In line with due process under Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act or CMTA, the warehouse owner/operator has 15 days from receiving the Letter of Authority to challenge the findings and provide documents proving that the agricultural products were legally imported and the correct duties and taxes were paid.
“This successful operation is a testament of our relentless effort to crack down on the smuggling of agricultural products,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said in a statement. “We are resolute in our mission to protect our local farmers and industries from unfair competition and ensure that those who violate our laws are held accountable. This is just one of many steps we are taking to intensify our crackdown on smuggling activities,” he added.
At a media briefing on August 19, 2024, Commissioner Rubio said he instructed the Intelligence Group-CIIS to conduct a thorough investigation into the attempted smuggling of agricultural products.
Additional assistance was also extended to BOC and DA by the local government unit of Navotas, led by Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Philippine Coast Guard–Task Force Aduana .
The joint operation underscores the commitment of the BOC, DA, and other law enforcement agencies to uphold trade regulations and safeguard the integrity of the agricultural sector against illicit activities, the bureau said in a statement.
