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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BOC seizes P228M worth of imported sugar in Manila

BOC seizes P228M worth of imported sugar in Manila

Published Oct 17, 2022 01:41 pm

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized on Monday, Oct. 17, more than P228 million worth of imported sugar inside the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tondo, Manila.

BOC acting Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said the refined sugar was from Thailand and arrived in the country on Sept. 24 inside 76 container vans.

Personnel of the Customs Intelligence and investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) of the Bureau of Customs serve a warrant and seizure order on 76 container vans containing P228 million worth of imported sugar from Thailand at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tondo, Manila on Oct. 17, 2022. (photo: Manny LLanes)

The seizure of the imported sugar came after the Customs Intelligence and investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) denied the request to amend the manifest changing the consignee’s name.

CIIS-MICP chief Alvin Enciso disclosed that there was an attempt by the consignee to change its name on Oct. 10 after a request for issuance of an alert order was received at the District Collector’s Office on October 4.

“There is a lot of hocus pocus that these smugglers try to get away with their crimes. We aren’t just here looking for every hoarder and smuggler. We’re here to stop any action that would jeopardize our market prices, the local production, and the impact of these on our workers and consumers,” said Ruiz.

“I’m proud of what our team has done in this case. They didn’t let this attempt to change consignees go through and were fast on their feet in making sure we stop another shipment from entering our local markets,” he added.

Based on the intelligence report received by the CIIS and the BOC Intelligence Group, both headed by Jeoffrey Tacio, the shipments contained “misdeclared and undeclared” items.

Personnel of the Customs Intelligence and investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) of the Bureau of Customs serve a warrant and seizure order on 76 container vans containing P22* million worth of imported sugar from Thailand at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) in Tondo, Manila on Oct. 17, 2022. (photo: Manny Llanes)

Tacio said this led to the request for the issuance of an Alert Order on Oct. 4.

"We also that a Warrant and Seizure Order (WSD) be issued against the shipment “due to lack of the requisite Clearance for Release of Imported Sugar being issued by the SRA in violation of Sections 117 and 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)," said Tacio.

CIIS-MICP opened the containers on Oct. 17 following the issuance of the WSD.

“There was already initial information about the shipment’s status. What’s good is all of us here acted expeditiously upon receiving this information from high authorities,” said Tacio.

The aggressive campaign against smuggled agricultural products was launched after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the BOC to inspect warehouses across the country believed to be storing and hoarding sugar in an attempt to manipulate market prices.

Ruiz lauded this latest operation from the bureau, particularly the blocking of the attempt to circumvent the law and change the consignment.

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