Nearly P8M worth of 'undeclared' onions, carrots seized in Manila
Authorities have intercepted a container van loaded with allegedly undeclared onions and carrots with an estimated worth of P7,860,300 in Tondo, Manila.

In a statement Friday, Jan. 7, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the undeclared agricultural products were seized during a spot-check inspection at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) last Jan. 4.
Accordingly, four container vans were flagged at the MICT after authorities received a report that they contain undeclared agricultural products.
During the inspection, joint teams from the PCG Task Force Bantas sa Bumabangon na Magsasaka (TF-BBM), Department of Agriculture Wide Field Inspectorate (DA-WFI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and Bureau of Customs (BOC) found one of the vans containing the undeclared fresh red onions and carrots.


The PCG said a recommendation was made to serve a warrant of seizure and detention for the shipment for violation of Section 1400 (misdeclaration, misclassification, undervaluation in goods declaration) and Section 117 (regulated importation and exportation) of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The seized van and the products were placed under the custody of the BOC.
The price of some agricultural products such as red onion has soared to P700 per kilo in recent weeks due to the low supply and high demand especially during the holiday season.
President Ferdinand Marcos, who concurrently sits as the Agriculture Secretary, had said last month that the government was mulling to sell seized smuggled onions to address the skyrocketing price in the market.