The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized smuggled imported rice from Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand during a surprise raid on a warehouse in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday night, Dec. 16.
Thousands of sacks of rice worth more than P500 million were discovered without legal documents in Bulacan by the Bureau of Customs led by CIIS Director Vernie Enciso on Monday night, Dec.16, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Rey Domingo)
The thousands of sacks of rice worth more than P500 million were found without legal documents. It was suspected that they were smuggled into the Customs ports in Manila.
The BOC said the area has been under surveillance for a long time due to reports that it is allegedly illegally storing bulks smuggled rice.
After a few days of surveillance and under the BOC Letter of Authority (LOA), the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) led by CIIS Director Vernie Enciso raided the warehouse.
The CIIS immediately closed the warehouse and conducted an inventory while the BOC continued its investigation.
Customs law violation charges are being readied for filing with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the consignees of the smuggled rice and warehouse operators/owners.