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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ice cream' shipments from China yield P10M worth of red onions--BOC

'Ice cream' shipments from China yield P10M worth of red onions--BOC

Published Jun 30, 2021 01:15 pm

Onions and ice cream are two ideas that should never mix--unless you're an enterprising smuggler.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) bared Wednesday, June 30 that P10 million worth of red onions were found hidden inside ice cream containers from two shipments originating from China.

The shipments arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Monday, June 28.

ONION SURPRISE--Some P10 million worth of smuggled red onions were found stuffed inside two "ice cream" shipments from China, the BOC said. These were intercepted at the Manila International Container Port on June 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy of the BOC)

According to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), the shipments were declared to contain ice cream sticks and were allegedly consigned to E. Austero Merchandising.

However, during the 100 percent physical examination, red onions were instead found concealed in the ice cream containers.

The officially declared goods were 204 cartons of Aice Chocolate Crispy Vanilla and Milk-Coated with Two Layers of Chocolate, 167 cartons of Aice Chocolate Cup, 213 cartons of Aice Chocolate-Iced Milk with Chocolate Milk-Flavored Ice Cream Stick with Chocolate, and other varieties.

Alvin Enciso, chief of CIIS-MICP, said that the discovery of the smuggled onions stemmed from the receipt of “derogatory information,” prompting them to request for the issuance of alert orders (AO) against the two containers.

“When we received information like this, we take action immediately because time is of the essence here. We want to see and examine the shipments as soon as the containers arrive so we know what requests we need to make to further investigate the shipments,” he said.

Enciso said that the boxes labeled as ice cream sticks were placed at the threshold of the container to conceal the presence of the red onions inside. Some of the red onions were also hidden inside the boxes of the ice cream itself.

The BOC has already issued a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) against the shipment for violating number Section 1113 under Section 1400 of Republic Act (RA) 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Enciso said that aside from misdeclaration, the consignee also did not have the required permits from the Bureau of Plants and Industry (BPI) to bring such food items into the country.

MICP District Collector Romero Allan R. Rosales, on the other hand, said that the port is committed to preventing the entry of illegal agricultural goods, especially those that are meant for human consumption and do not have the necessary permits, to ensure the safety of such items.

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Ice cream 63021 SMUGGLED ONIONS BOC MICP
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