Agents of the Bureau of Customs based in Zamboanga City have confiscated around P18.6 million of onions believed to have been smuggled into the country.
In a statement, BOC Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said the onions were found inside a vessel, MV Princess Nurdisza, that was intercepted off the waters of Barangay Ayala on Jan. 25. The vessel reportedly came from Tawi-Tawi, and was bound for Barangay Balingasan in Zamboanga City.
"Through the Water Patrol Division, the POZ intercepted 5,611 mesh bags of imported red onions with an estimated market value of P8.5 million and 2,249 mesh bags of imported white onions valued at P10.1 million during a maritime patrol operation," said Ruiz.
Last year, Ruiz ordered local BOC officials to step up patrol using watercraft that were procured by the agency.
Ruiz said the crew of the vessel failed to provide a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Plant Industry for the goods.
The onions were transported to the Department of Agriculture's Research Center in Barangay Talisayan, Zamboanga City, for safekeeping.
The successful operation served as a follow-up on the two operations on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23 that led to the confiscation of almost P10 million smuggled onions also in Zamboanga City.
The BOC has stepped up the drive against agricultural smuggling, the recent target was onion amid the sudden surge in price of onions late last year.