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The Bureau of Customs, Department of Agriculture, and Philippine Navy intercepted two cargo vessels carrying a combined 20,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, valued at about P700 million
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Grounds for interception were questionable documents and canceled sanitary and phytosanitary import permits
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The vessels were both intercepted in Davao City on separate dates in September
The Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Philippine Navy intercepted two cargo vessels carrying a combined 20,000 metric tons (MT) of rice from Vietnam, valued at about P700 million, over questionable shipping documents and canceled sanitary and phytosanitary permits.
The vessels were intercepted in Davao City on September 17 and 21, 2026. The MV Tay Son 2 was carrying 12,500 MT of rice, while the MV Lucky Star had 7,500 MT, according to a BOC news release.
Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, commended the agencies during a Senate session for their coordinated efforts to prevent the entry of potentially illegally imported agricultural products.
Pangilinan said he had personally spoken with Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Customs commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, who confirmed the interceptions and said they were closely monitoring the situation.
“We are thankful na sila mismo ang (that they themselves are) on top of the situation,” Pangilinan said, acknowledging the officials’ prompt response.
The committee is planning to conduct an investigation on the incidents, to be aligned with the scheduled DA budget hearing later this month.
Preliminary findings point to possible violations of Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2024, which seeks to combat large-scale agricultural smuggling and other forms of economic sabotage involving agricultural products.
Nepomuceno said the BOC would maintain strict monitoring of ports to protect local farmers and ensure compliance with laws governing agricultural imports.
“We will not allow smugglers to exploit our ports for illegal activities while our farmers are affected. The amount involved is significant, so we will intensify our monitoring and cooperation with the DA and other agencies. We also thank the Philippine Navy for their valuable assistance in this operation. Anyone proven to have violated the law must be held accountable,” Nepomuceno said in Filipino.
