P85-M SMUGGLED MEAT FROM CHINA SEIZED IN PARAÑAQUE

OPERATIVES of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized around P85 million worth of smuggled frozen meat and other products from China in an inspection  at a warehouse in Parañaque City

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Sunday said the operation was conducted after he issued a Letter of Authority (LOA) on September 5.

Members of the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS) served the LOA to a representative of the warehouse that was found containing various poultry, meat and other products from China suspected to be without proper customs duties and taxes.  

“The audacity of these people to smuggle and hide agricultural products right in the heart of Metro Manila is beyond me. They belittle our laws and make a mockery of our hardworking Customs agents by thinking they can operate these illegal activities just a few kilometers from our port,” Rubio, in a statement, said.

BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said they found frozen duck meat, chicken meat, pork meat and food items with Chinese markings, and assorted food and beverage with foreign markings.

“The initial inventory found that these poultry products will amount to about P85 million in the market. But we’re still determining the actual cost once final inventory is conducted by our examiners,” Enciso said.

The warehouse was temporarily padlocked and sealed to protect the subjected goods as the final inventory will be conducted by the assigned Customs examiner and witnessed by warehouse representatives, CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service.

The owners of the warehouses will be given 15 days to present the proper documents to clear out allegations they were hoarding imported agricultural products.

According to the BOC, if found without proper documents, seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Section 1400 or misdeclaration in goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 or the property subject to seizure and forfeiture of Republic Act 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.