19 people held, smuggled frozen meats and fruits seized in Tondo warehouse
*By Richielyn Canlas
* Authorities arrested 19 people and confiscated tons of smuggled frozen meats and fruits during a raid on a warehouse in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, June 20, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Wednesday. Police withheld the names of the arrested suspects, one of them is a Chinese national. The operation was conducted by the MPD, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippines Coast Guard (PCG), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) at Infanta Street corner H. Lopez Boulevard in Balut, Tondo, at around 12:45 p.m.
Photo from MPD / MANILA BULLETIN
Confiscated from the suspects were an undetermined quantity of imported frozen meat products and fruits. According to the authorities, the warehouse and the seized products did not have their corresponding permits from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Police said the items are believed to be smuggled, adding that it is uncertain if they are safe to sell in the market. The arrested suspects were brought to the District Police Intelligence Operation Unit (DPIOU) Office for proper investigation and documentation.