"Smuggled" imported rice seized

CEBU - The Bureau of Customs seized about 6,000 bags of imported rice with an estimated worth of P9 million after the shipment was found to have no permit and a certificate of loading.

Capt. Isidro Estrera, chief of the Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Police Division said the sacks of rice were placed in 14 container vans and were transported to Cebu via the M/V Princess of the South.

Estrera said District Collector Ricardo Belmonte issued the two alert orders on the shipment last November 24 after its papers were found questionable. The shipment allegedly was not covered with a permit from the National Food Authority and a Certificate of Loading from the BOC of its point of origin.

Estrera explained that when a rice shipment holds more than 3,000 bags, it already needs a permit to transport both from the NFA and the BOC. The shipper has not been identified.

“If they cannot present the permit to transport and the certificate of loading from the Bureau of Customs, mahimo na kini nga basis sa confiscation sa kargamento,” Estrera said.

Since the shipment did not have the required documents, Estrera said it follows that the shipper did not pay the correct duties and taxes.

There were reportedly 17 container vans that were unloaded from the M/V Princess of the South but three of which have already been transported out of the port area. The customs police are now investigating how the three container vans managed to elude authorities and where they were brought. —Rene U. Borromeo/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)