Two container vans containing P40 million worth of smuggled poultry products were seized at the Subic Port, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Monday, March 13.
In a statement, the agriculture department said the containers were consigned to the Abucayan Business and Trade.
The DA said the agricultural products, which were declared as squid rings, contained dressed chicken, duck head, and duck neck, were worth approximately P40 million.
“The vans were also reportedly lacking the necessary documents including the Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC),” it added.
The DA said it will immediately begin legal action against the consignee for misrepresenting and misclassifying the shipment in accordance with Republic Acts Nos. 10611, the Food Safety Act of 2013, and 10845, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, as well as other relevant laws.
“The action, which led to the confiscation of the said shipment, is related to the ongoing directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.to curb illegal trade activity to enable Filipino farmers and fishers to increase income and make locally grown agricultural produce more competitive,” the agriculture department said.
On March 2, the DA-IE (Inspectorate and Enforcement) carried out an operation in Port of Subic in collaboration with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) (POS).