The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-RATS Program in its all-out waronsmuggling has once again caused the filing of criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against five (5) traders and two (2)licensed brokers for the unlawful importation of agricultural products such as onions and pecking ducks worth 18 million pesos.

Slapped with charges are RADY SALGUERO GARBOSA owner of RSG MARKETING, together with his import manager and broker, ADONIS A. ANDILAB and JUCYLITA C. GARCIA, respectively; JAIME M. MARTINEZ the owner of REACHABLE ENTERPRISES and his broker JANET JACKELOU R. CARIGA; and ESTELITO M. MALLARI and GARY MADUGNON, the consignee and shipper of a shipment from Cagayan de Oro City.

Garbosa is now charged for two counts of smuggling of onions and pecking ducks. Sometime in May 2012, Garbosa together with Andilab and Garcia smuggled into the country 1×40 container van of pecking ducks worth 8 million pesos from Hong Kong, a prohibited/banned importation. After two months, Garbosa again with intent to defraud our government, unlawfully imported onions declared as fresh pears worth 2 million pesos, without the necessary import permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

On the other hand, Martinez in connivance with his broker Cariga, likewise on June this year imported into the country 2 x 40 container vans of onions worth 4 million pesos without any import permit from the BPI. The smuggled onions were declared as Umbrellas, Office Supplies, Lamps & Parts, Plasticwareâ.

Finally, Mallari and Madugnon, are the consignee and shipper in a coastwise shipment of 2 x 40 container vans from Cagayan de Oro City. On July 2012, the two conspired to circumvent the law by making it appear that the said shipment are locally produced tomatoes but when apprehended, it was found out that it contained imported onions worth 4 million pesos.

The respondents are charged for violation of the Section 3601 Tariff and Customs Code, Department Orders of the Department of Agriculture and Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

“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,” CommissionerBiazon said.

“The public health is at stake here, specially with the unlawful importation of pecking duck which is known as carrier of the deadly avian flu virus. 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 conveyed their satisfaction over the personnel of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)of the Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port, headed by Atty. Alex Atienza and Bienvenido Rubio, respectively and the Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) with their Director, Gen. George Alinio (Ret.), for the accomplishment in apprehending the aforesaid smuggled agricultural products.

Deputy Commissioner Peter M. Manzano, on the other hand, said, to date, the RATS Group has filed a total of 48 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 ended.