BOC seizes P24.7-M smuggled garlic, rice

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated P24.7 million worth of smuggled garlic and glutinous rice.

According to a statement issued yesterday, the goods arrived in two separate shipments at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Sept. 4.

The 200,000 kilos of garlic from Shandong, China was consigned to Kenshien General Merchandise based in Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro.

Import documents filed by Kenshien showed that the firm only paid P237,076 in duties and taxes, a discrepancy of over almost 45 percent as against P520,000 duties and taxes on past garlic importations of similar weight.

The 145,000 kilos of rice, on the other hand, was consigned to Gold Friends Enterprises, which is based in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro.

According to the BOC, the rice was misdeclared as “household ware” and did not have the required import permit from the National Food Authority. – Zinnia dela Peña, Evelyn Macairan