CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs vowed to go after the persons behind the attempted sugar smuggling and will not hesitate to penalize its own employees if they are proven to be involved in the illegal activity.
The declared consignees already denied ownership of the illegal shipment.
Customs Commissioner Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon, in a press conference yesterday, said that they will go after all the perpetrators of this smuggling attempt and should any Customs employees be involved in this they will definitely face sanctions.
“Mananagot sa batas ang dapat managot. We will never allow the export and free port zones to be used by smugglers as conduits for their illegal activities,” Biazon said.
Last November 22, 10 container vans containing about P10 million worth of smuggled sugar were apprehended by a joint team of the BOC-Xray Division and the Enforcement and Security Service.
The shipment came from Thailand on board M/V Titan. It was found out that the shipment’s documents were fake and signatures were forged.
BOC-Xray division head Lourdes Mangaoang explained that the 10 container vans did not pass though x-ray examination and were sneaked out of the port.
However, BOC personnel were quick to run after the seven vans.
The three remaining vans were examined and it was found out that the shipment was misdeclared as marbles, granite products and eye glasses.
Misdeclaration of shipment is a violation of Section 2503 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines. Biazon, BOC-Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre, Mangaoang and other BOC officials opened the container vans.
Silvestre said that forfeiture proceedings against the shipment will be conducted as soon as possible considering that sugar is a perishable item. — (FREEMAN)