Photo courtesy: Department of Agriculture
MORE than 300 tons of smuggled vegetables were seized in a joint operation by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in an illegal warehouse in Navotas City, officials said Friday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the operation, conducted on Thursday night, uncovered smuggled vegetables stored in two separate cold storage facilities.
Based on initial reports, one facility held 132.75 tons of white onions valued at P21.2 million, while another contained 89.89 tons of imported carrots worth approximately P13.48 million.
In addition to the onions and carrots, authorities also discovered 360 kilos of tomatoes, 10 kilos of enoki mushrooms, and a 40-foot container van loaded with 92.25 tons of imported white onions.
“We cannot allow illegal trade practices such as this to continue hurting the livelihood of our farmers. The order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is clear: Go after these smugglers without let up,” Tiu Laurel said.
He also acknowledged the critical support from Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Rep. Toby Tiangco, crediting their collaboration with local police and barangay officials for the operation’s success.
“The help extended by Navotas Mayor John Rey and Congressman Toby was crucial in ensuring that we do right by our farmers, whose livelihoods are hurt by unfair trade practices, especially smuggling. Aside from harming our farmers, smuggled agricultural goods also put at risk the health of the Filipino consumer,” Tiu Laurel said.
