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The Bureau of Customs asked the Bureau of Immigration to issue a Lookout Bulletin Order against 13 individuals connected to a suspected agricultural smuggling
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The request follows the filing of criminal complaints with the Justice department on Sept. 24 involving six shipments consigned to Berches Trading
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The 13 individuals include the importer’s owner and representatives, its licensed customs broker, and nine BOC officials and employees
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BOC said the immigration order would help monitor the subjects’ international travel and ensure their availability for investigation and subsequent proceedings
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against 13 individuals linked to a recently filed agricultural smuggling case.
The request follows the filing of criminal complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on September 24 involving six shipments consigned to Berches Trading.
READ: BOC files charges vs importer, staff over misdeclared agri goods
The shipments were declared as “chicken lollipops” on paper but were found upon inspection to contain thousands of sacks of fresh onions and boxes of carrots imported without the required regulatory clearance.
“We will use every legal measure available to hold accountable all those responsible. Anyone who enables, facilitates, or takes part in smuggling will have to answer for it. We will pursue these cases wherever the evidence leads,” Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.
The BOC’s ILBO request covers the owner and representatives of the importer, its licensed customs broker, and nine BOC officials and employees allegedly connected with the shipments.
In a letter to BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the BOC said the request would facilitate monitoring of the subjects’ international travel and help ensure their availability for the ongoing investigation and subsequent proceedings, as may be warranted and subject to applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
The BOC also asked the BI to consider a supplemental list if other individuals connected with the cases are identified during the ongoing investigation.
