.png){kind=logo}
3 hours ago
1
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno (fifth from left) and other officials of the BOC and the Department of Agriculture yesterday present to members of the media smuggled food products seized at the port of Subic.
MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled frozen and processed food products worth P47.44 million have been seized at the port of Subic, according to the Bureau of Customs.
The BOC said the anti-smuggling operation stemmed from information received by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service about a shipment supposedly containing agricultural products.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the operation was in compliance with a directive of President Marcos to ensure that only safe and compliant products are sold in local markets.
During inspection, authorities discovered 3,192 boxes of assorted food products including frozen beef, pork, chicken and duck as well as pastry and seafood.
The shipment was reportedly declared as assorted shabu-shabu balls.
Nepomuceno and Agriculture Undersecretary Carlos Carag presented the confiscated items at a press conference yesterday.
BOC district collector Noel Estanislao said the port of Subic would intensify law enforcement to secure the country’s borders against smugglers.
Meanwhile, in Bulacan, five people were arrested following a raid that resulted in the seizure of fake cigarettes and smuggled goods valued at P1.9 million on Thursday.
The raid was based on a complaint filed by Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. regarding a large volume of smuggled cigarettes stored in a warehouse in Barangay San Jose, Plaridel.
Members of the Bulacan police and representatives of the cigarette company discovered several boxes of Marlboro, Green Commando, Cannon, Mighty, Two Moon and Delta cigarettes as well as rubber shoes, food seasoning, instant noodles and perfumes in the warehouse.
The goods have no tax stamps and regulatory compliance documents, according to Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, Central Luzon police director.
Mendez said the packaging of the cigarettes lacked graphic health warnings.
Charges for violating the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 and the Intellectual Property Rights law as well as the Consumers Protection Act of the Philippines and the Graphic Health Warnings Law will be filed against the suspects.
