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Advocates Philippines
BOC Subic Seizes Illegal Shipments Of Carrots, Onions, And Smuggled Cigarettes Worth Over Php 136 Million
Photo credit: BOC
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Port of Subic has recently made a significant interception of smuggled goods, seizing agricultural products and cigarettes with a total value of around Php 136.59 million.
The first discovery came on August 15, 2024, when the BOC received a shipment declared as 13,250 cartons of frozen fish egg balls, estimated to be worth Php 21 million. However, things took a suspicious turn when BOC’s Intelligence Group, led by Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy, called for further verification of the shipment. This triggered an Alert Order issued on August 22.
When Customs officials conducted a physical examination of the containers on August 28, they were surprised to find something entirely different inside: fresh carrots and yellow onions. Even worse, the shipment was missing key documents like the Certificate of Product Registration from the FDA and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certificate. The lack of proper documentation, along with the misdeclaration, broke several regulations, leading to the issuance of Warrants of Seizure and Detention.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Just days later, on September 6, BOC officials uncovered another smuggling attempt—this time involving cigarettes. The shipment, supposedly containing household items like tissue paper, actually housed 1,986 master cases of cigarettes from Taiwan, worth Php 115.5 million. This clear attempt at misrepresentation violated tobacco and customs regulations.
Deputy Commissioner Uy, together with Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Ricardo Morales, and other officials, even conducted a re-inspection of the seized agricultural goods on September 11 to ensure everything was in order.
District Collector Morales emphasized the port’s commitment to cracking down on these illegal activities, stating, "We are determined to prevent misdeclared and smuggled goods from entering the country. Our stringent inspection protocols ensure compliance with the law, and we will take necessary action against violators."
These recent interceptions underline the BOC – Port of Subic’s continued efforts to enforce import regulations and protect public health, all in line with Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio’s 5-Point Priority Program. It’s clear that the BOC isn’t letting its guard down anytime soon.
The first discovery came on August 15, 2024, when the BOC received a shipment declared as 13,250 cartons of frozen fish egg balls, estimated to be worth Php 21 million. However, things took a suspicious turn when BOC’s Intelligence Group, led by Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy, called for further verification of the shipment. This triggered an Alert Order issued on August 22.
When Customs officials conducted a physical examination of the containers on August 28, they were surprised to find something entirely different inside: fresh carrots and yellow onions. Even worse, the shipment was missing key documents like the Certificate of Product Registration from the FDA and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Certificate. The lack of proper documentation, along with the misdeclaration, broke several regulations, leading to the issuance of Warrants of Seizure and Detention.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Just days later, on September 6, BOC officials uncovered another smuggling attempt—this time involving cigarettes. The shipment, supposedly containing household items like tissue paper, actually housed 1,986 master cases of cigarettes from Taiwan, worth Php 115.5 million. This clear attempt at misrepresentation violated tobacco and customs regulations.
Deputy Commissioner Uy, together with Port of Subic District Collector Atty. Ricardo Morales, and other officials, even conducted a re-inspection of the seized agricultural goods on September 11 to ensure everything was in order.
District Collector Morales emphasized the port’s commitment to cracking down on these illegal activities, stating, "We are determined to prevent misdeclared and smuggled goods from entering the country. Our stringent inspection protocols ensure compliance with the law, and we will take necessary action against violators."
These recent interceptions underline the BOC – Port of Subic’s continued efforts to enforce import regulations and protect public health, all in line with Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio’s 5-Point Priority Program. It’s clear that the BOC isn’t letting its guard down anytime soon.
Sep 11, 2024
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