THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced on Monday the seizure of P202 million worth of smuggled frozen mackerel at the Port of Manila.
The 19-container shipment, originating from China, was falsely declared as frozen fried taro to evade customs regulations.
The shipment was flagged on January 25 following a joint request from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the Plant Quarantine Service-Bureau of Plant Industry. An alert order was issued on February 13, leading to a physical inspection from February 18-19.
The misdeclaration resulted in a warrant of seizure and detention under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio emphasized the threat posed by the illegal entry of agricultural products to both local farmers and national food security. He stressed the BOC’s intensified efforts to combat smuggling syndicates and protect domestic industries.
The successful operation highlights the collaborative efforts of the BOC, the Department of Agriculture, and other agencies in safeguarding the nation’s economy and food supply. The seized containers were inspected on Monday by Commissioner Rubio, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and District Collector Alexander Gerard Alviar.
