At least P100 million worth of frozen meat and other agricultural commodities were seized during a joint operation conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in a storage facility in Kawit, Cavite recently, the DA bared on Friday, June 14.

In a statement, the agriculture department said the storage facility was leased by Vigour Global Logistic Corp.

Seized from the Cavite storage facility during the joint operation on May 31 were 98,000 kilograms of frozen meat and other agricultural products.

“The composite team discovered that the warehouse leased by Vigour Global had been converted into cold storage facilities to conceal a large volume of frozen, regulated meat products, and other commodities,” the agency stated.

According to a report from the DA Inspectorate and Enforcement Office, ten cold storage facilities were discovered hidden behind a false wall and blocked by a van.

After dismantling the wall, the DA stated that the composite team uncovered cold storage rooms filled with various items, including assorted meatballs, shabu-shabu ingredients, beef and pork, chicken wings, siomai, assorted fish, pork belly, boneless pork, beef, and Peking ducks.

During an inspection by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service, it was found that some frozen food products were unfit for human consumption, in violation of Republic Act No. 10611, also known as the Food Safety Act of 2013.

“This act could be construed as a breach of revenue laws or an attempt to evade tax payments, dues, and other fees,” the DA said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that this should serve as a stern warning to unscrupulous traders, emphasizing that efforts to crack down on these illicit activities will not cease.

“We want to ensure that our farmers are not disadvantaged by these unfair and often illegal trade practices,” he said.