Four traders charged with smuggling onions and potatoes worth PHP 43M

  • Post category:News

The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-RATS Program, in its all-out war on smuggling, has file another criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four (4) traders for the unlawful importation of onions and potatoes worth 43 million.

Charged are Nazario R. Canono and Tirso S. Otar, responsible officers of D’Golden House, Vivian P. Rosales, owner/proprietor of Alvee Trading and William M. Lejano, owner/proprietor of Aya Day Trading.

Canono, Otar, Rosales and Lejano brought into the country 23×40 containers of onions and potatoes which arrived at the Port of Davao without the necessary import permits/clearances from the Department of Agriculture. Smuggled onions and potatoes were declared as shortening, yeast, lanolin and margarine in violation of Section 3601 in relation to 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

“These attempts to bring into the country illegally imported onions are not intended to fill in a demand or shortage, but simply, to exploit the high demand for the crop, to the detriment, of course, of our local farmers,” Commissioner Rufino Biazon said.

“The days of smugglers at the BOC are numbered, especially those involved in the illegal importation of agricultural and food products. With the 100% examination of all food importations now imposed by the Bureau, smugglers would soon realize that the BOC is not the place for them to be,” Commissioner Biazon added.

For their part, Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Danilo Lim and Enforcement Group Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing commended the personnel of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and the Enforcement and Security Services (ESS), for the accomplishment in apprehending the smuggled agricultural products.

Deputy Commissioner Peter M. Manzano, on the other hand, stated that to date, the RATS Group has filed a total of 37 cases under the watch of Commissioner Biazon.

The RATS Group has lived up to its mandate, to curb smuggling activities through continuous case profiling/building and active prosecution of smuggling cases. “Having in mind the leadership of the Honorable Commissioner in accordance with the directive of His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino, rest assured that the RATS Group will relentlessly and continuously combat smuggling in all forms, in all ports and at all costs,” Manzano said.