BOC averts smuggling of 7K MT of sugar in Subic Port

(Photo courtesy of BOC Public Information and Assistance Division via PNA)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday averted the possible smuggling of 7,021 metric tons (MT) of sugar from Thailand at the Subic Port in Zambales after bureau officials learned that the import permit used for the cargo was “recycled”, meaning it was already used for an earlier sugar shipment.

Acting Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz reported the attempted smuggling to Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, who earlier tasked the BOC to use its visitorial power to inspect warehouses where stocks of sugar were believed to be hoarded for profit.

Ruiz immediately ordered the BOC in Subic Port to take under its custody the 19 crew members of the cargo vessel MV Bangpakaew, which was found to be loaded with 7,021 MT of Thailand white refined sugar equivalent to 140,000 bags and with total tax payment valued at PHP45,623,007.

Initial investigation by the BOC showed that the consignee of the smuggled sugar is Oro-Agritrade, Inc. under the account of ARC Refreshments Corp. under Entry Nos. C-12513 and C-12521.

The Thai exporter is listed as Ruamkamlarp Export Co. Ltd. while the local customs broker was identified as Malou Leynes Buerano.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) officer in charge Joeffrey Tacio reported that the cargo is covered by a “Special Permit to Discharge (SPD) and Verified Single Administrative Document (SAD)” from BOC and with a verified clearance from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) through a certain Rondell Manjarres.

“Initially, the said cargo vessel was allowed to discharge its load at 11 a.m. today (Thursday), cleared by SRA and BOC because it was not covered by the failed attempt to import 300,000 MT of sugar. This means that the recycled permit was from an old allocation,” Tacio reported.

Reports reaching the Office of the Executive Secretary indicated that a similar modus using “recycled import permits” resulted in the smuggling last week of a shipload of imported sugar.

The report from the OES identified several persons who allegedly control Subic Port, including a certain “Buboy” and “Reggie” who both use “ Kysse Lish” and “Foxxie” as consignees.

“This is clearly economic sabotage and this crime is non-bailable,” the report from the OES said.

The Executive Secretary, on orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also directed the BOC to investigate the possibility that the alleged “locally procured” sugar seized in the two warehouses in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan were actually imported sugar but were repacked using sacks of local brands.

Rodriguez earlier raised suspicion on why the SRA could not account for the 63,000 MT of sugar, which was the balance from the 200,000 MT under Sugar Order No. 3 approved by the Sugar Regulatory Board last February.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said heads may roll at the BOC if evidence shows that any of the bureau’s port personnel are in connivance with smugglers using recycled sugar import permits.

She further said at least one of the warehouses inspected in Bulacan and Pampanga on Thursday were not registered with the SRA.

“Suspicions were raised when the owner claimed that the stockpile was the result of slow sales. ‘Matumal’ daw (slack sales),” Cruz-Angeles said.

“Dun pa sa hinarang na shipment, gamit pa daw ang permit from Sugar Order No. 3. Kung totoo ito, lalong nagiging suspicious yung madaliang paglabas ng Sugar Order No. 4 (On the blocked shipment, it said that the permit from Sugar Order No. 3 has been used. If this is true, the sudden release of Sugar Order No. 4 becomes more suspicious),” she added. (OPS)