714 boxes of frozen seafood seized in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — At least 714 boxes of smuggled frozen seafood products were discovered at a cold storage facility in Navotas City on Friday night.

The smuggled goods, valued at P1.42 million, were found by Department of Agriculture (DA) personnel during an inspection of ICY Point Cold Storage and Processing Corp.’s facility along Lapu-Lapu Avenue at around 9:30 p.m.

Prior to the inspection, the DA, assisted by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, conducted an entrapment operation at the facility in response to reports there were smugglers selling imported fish products, among them pampano, to customers.

Alma Aden, 47; Cheryl Elizalde, 38, and Tito Monares Jr., 22, were arrested after they were caught selling imported fish without certifications or documents from the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

They were taken into custody after they received P3,000 in marked money from an undercover operative.

The suspects are being held on charges of agricultural smuggling and violating Republic Act 7394, the Consumer Act.

The seafood products were kept at the storage facility as authorities are still verifying from the owner if the goods are covered by the necessary legal documents.