THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized P524.27 million worth of agricultural products from a Valenzuela City warehouse, including nearly 100,000 sacks of red onions valued at P372.3 million, as part of an investigation into suspected agricultural smuggling.
The seizure covers 99,289 sacks of red onions valued at P372.3 million, raising concerns over possible agricultural smuggling and violations of import regulations.
The BOC, working with the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Agriculture, and Philippine Coast Guard, issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention on Nov. 9 after finding discrepancies between the warehouse inventory and import documents submitted by its representatives.
Initial investigation showed that the warehouse representatives failed to produce sufficient documents establishing the legal importation of the goods, payment of duties and taxes, and compliance with DA import permit requirements.
A 100-percent physical inventory also uncovered 20,886 sacks of beans and legumes worth P103.7 million and 18,016 boxes of ginger and carrots valued at P26 million.
Other seized items included peanut products, textured vegetable protein, laundry bluing powder, packaging materials, and four forklifts, bringing the total estimated market value of the seized commodities to P524,274,355.
Packaging markings indicated that some products originated from China, Argentina, Australia, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, and Egypt.
However, investigators have yet to establish the origin of the red onions and several other commodities.
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the investigation would go beyond determining whether import documents were presented, stressing the need to establish the actual origin of the products and verify whether they were legally imported and the correct duties and taxes paid.
"Simply presenting documents is not enough. We must establish where the products came from, whether they were legally brought into the country, and whether the correct taxes were paid," Nepomuceno said.
He warned that those found responsible would be held accountable, saying the government would not allow Filipino farmers to suffer losses because of agricultural smuggling.
The operation is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to intensify the campaign against agricultural smuggling and protect local farmers from unfair competition.
The BOC said it would step up intelligence operations, warehouse inspections, and coordination with other government agencies to identify illegal agricultural imports and prosecute those behind them.
