P50-M worth of sugar, fruits, cars seized by Customs agents

Over P50 million in assorted smuggled merchandise from China, Korea and Thailand were seized by Customs agents yesterday.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Renato Ampil, in the presence of Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim identified the contraband as Thai sugar in 20 20-foot container vans (P20 million), fresh fruits from China in 25 40-footer containers (P30 million) and Hyundai Excel sedans from South Korea (P3.5 million).

With Ampil were Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) George Jereos, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) chief Angel Africa, Port of Manila (POM) District Collector Reynaldo Nicolas and Manila International Container Port (MICP) District Collector Buenaventura Maniego.

The white refined sugar, which came on board MED Keelung, were seized by a combined team from the IEG and the Risk Management Group (RMG) headed by Roberto Santayana, concurrent Special Assistant for Operations.

The misdeclared shipment was consigned to Vander Shipping Ltd. by Belvedere International Trading with Seatrans International Transport as shipper.– Jerry Botial