MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs has intercepted 25 container vans loaded with misdeclared and illegal goods worth an estimated ₱136.92 million at the Port of Manila, marking another aggressive strike against smuggling operations.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said that what was declared as harmless plastic racks turned out to be a cache of undeclared imports—raising immediate red flags among customs examiners.
A full physical inspection exposed a mix of regulated, prohibited, and undervalued goods, all packed inside shipments traced to a construction supplies trading firm and largely sourced from China.
Among the most alarming finds were agricultural products, including rice and sugar valued at ₱18.134 million—items that directly impact local farmers and food security.
