The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) unrelenting campaign against smuggling has once again caused the seizures of three (3) forty footer container vans of illegally imported fresh potatoes and carrots worth PhP 7.5 million from China by operatives of the Bureau’s Enforcement Group.

In the media presentation of the seized agricultural products at the Manila International Container Port (MICP ) today (December 14, 2012), Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said, two (2) of the three (3) seized containers vans which contained fresh potatoes but were misdeclared as household wares, arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on November 14, 2012. The containers vans were consigned to two different companies namely, Marbatan Enterprises and Green Meadows Enterprises. While the other refrigerated container van (reefer) of fresh carrots which was consigned to Rorumen Agricultural Products arrived at the MICP on November 15, 2012 and was misdeclared as fresh apples.

“Those responsible for this smuggling attempt wanted to avoid the required Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) Import Clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry by indicating in their declarations fruit products whose importations are currently allowed by the Department of Agriculture.” Biazon said, adding that “But we will never allow to put the health and safety of Filipino consumers at risk by allowing such illegal importations.”

Biazon explained that the BOC will pursue legal measure against the persons responsible for these attempts and for violating Section 2503 in relation to Section 2530(f) and I (3,4 and 5) of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) as amended by Republic Act 7651 and Presidential Decree No. 1433, BPI Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 1981 and Department of Agriculture Order No. 9, Series of 2010.

Biazon also reiterated his warning to unscrupulous traders and businessmen that their illegal activities will be stopped by BOC operatives saying “You will be caught and you will face the brunt of the law.

BOC operatives are now on a heightened monitoring level on food and agricultural products importations due to its high demand at this time of the year.
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