A scheme to smuggle sugar into the country using "recycled import permits" was uncovered after Malacañang ordered a series of inspections on warehouses suspected to be hoarding sugar.
Malacañang disclosed on Friday, Aug. 19, that a shipment of 7,021 metric tons of sugar from Thailand using a "recycled" import permit was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Zambales.
The foiled shipment contained 40,000 bags of white refined sugar, with total tax payment valued at P45,623,007.51.
It was loaded in the cargo vessel MV Bangpakaew, which entered the Philippines through Subic Port.
The attempt to smuggle the sugar was uncovered before it could be unloaded from the ship Thursday morning.
According to the BOC, the shipment was allowed to be unloaded through an old import permit cleared by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and BOC.
“Initially, the said a cargo vessel was allowed to discharge its load at 11 a.m. today (Thursday), cleared by SRA and BoC because it was not covered by the failed attempt to import 300,000 MT (metric tons) of sugar. This means that the recycled permit was from an old allocation,” Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Chief Joeffrey Tacio said.
This, according to Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, was the same modus earlier reported to his office, prompting him to order an investigation.
He said that the similar modus using “recycled import permits” resulted in the smuggling of a shipload of imported sugar last week.
“This is clearly economic sabotage and this crime is non-bailable,” Rodriguez said.
Initial investigation conducted by the BOC over the foiled sugar shipment in Subic showed that the consignee is Oro-Agritrade Inc. while the Thai exporter is listed as Ruamkamlarp Export Co. Ltd.
'Heads may roll'
Rodriguez revealed that several persons are reportedly controlling Subic Port, including a certain “Buboy” and “Reggie” who both use “ Kysse Lish” and “Foxxie” as consignees.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that heads may roll at the BOC "if evidence shows that any of the bureau’s port personnel are in connivance with smugglers using recycled sugar import permits."
“Dun pa sa hinarang na shipment, gamit pa daw ang permit from Sugar Order No. 3. Kung totoo ito, lalong nagiging suspicious yung madaliang paglabas ng Sugar Order No. 4 (The intercepted shipment allegedly used a permit from the Sugar Order No. 3. If this is true, the hasty issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 is becoming even more suspicious)," Angeles added.
The interception of the shipment at the Port of Subic came amid the ongoing series of inspections ordered by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on warehouses suspected of hoarding sugar supply.
In the past few days, three warehouses in Bulacan and Pampanga storing thousands of sacks of sugar were inspected.
The sugar supply from these warehouses were suspected to have been imported into the country, and were being repacked and sold as local brands.
Angeles further said at least one of the warehouses inspected was not registered with the SRA.
“Suspicions were raised when the owner claimed that the stock pile was the result of slow sales. ‘Matumal’ daw,” she said.
All of this is happening amid the ongoing investigation launched by the Palace to look into the unauthorized order from the SRA to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of sugar.
READ MORE: Palace says more warehouses suspected of hoarding sugar to be inspected