P2.2 million smuggled sugar seized in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – Up to 900 sacks of suspected smuggled refined sugar worth about P2.2 million were seized at a private shipyard in this city at dawn yesterday.

Two truck drivers and two helpers were arrested during the operation conducted by the police Special Operations Unit-Regional Intelligence Division 9 at around 3:40 a.m. in Barangay Cawit, according to  Lt. Col. Helen Galvez, spokesperson for the Zamboanga peninsula police.

Galvez said the operation initially resulted in the discovery of a truck loaded with 900 bags of smuggled sugar.

She said during the investigation, more sacks of sugar bearing the same brand were discovered near the area, waiting to be loaded onto another 10-wheeler truck.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) initially estimated the value of the smuggled sugar at P2.2 million.

Police withheld the identities of the suspects so as not to compromise the investigation.

Galvez said the suspects would be charged with violation of Republic Act 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013 and RA 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

The seizure of the contraband came a week after authorities seized more than 100 bags of smuggled sugar in this city.

The BOC said the 100 bags of smuggled sugar could be the smugglers’ way of “testing the trade” as demand is expected to rise during the holiday season.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture announced that sugar importation is canceled until the middle of 2025 as  domestic supply of both raw and refined sugar is enough and stable.