BOC seizes P4-M smuggled carrots from China

After receiving the information, the team requested the issuance of a special stop order, which was signed by MICP District Collector Romy Allan Rosales, to examine the shipment which resulted in the discovery of the smuggled carrots. (File Photo: Rodrigo dos Reis/Unsplash)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday reported the seizure of PHP4 million worth of smuggled carrots from China at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

In a statement, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-MICP chief Alvin Enciso said the two shipments seized on Tuesday were consigned to Silverpop Dry Goods Trading and were declared as containing 2,600 cartons of steamed buns.

The broker of the shipments that arrived in the country on June 6 was identified as a certain Nemesio Asan Blancaflor Jr.

He said the operation which was conducted on Tuesday was conducted after receiving derogatory information about the entry of misdeclared agricultural products in the port.

After receiving the information, the team requested the issuance of a special stop order, which was signed by MICP District Collector Romy Allan Rosales, to examine the shipment which resulted in the discovery of the smuggled carrots.

“The bureau apprehended a number of illegal shipments because of the intelligence from our reliable informants. This is why we need to empower and strengthen our intelligence-gathering to further solidify our fight against smuggling,” he said.

The trading company and Blancaflor will face charges for agricultural smuggling, as well as violations of Sections 117 (regulated importation and exportation) and 1400 (misdeclaration) in relation to Section 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.