Government agents assigned in Manila North Harbor have seized two smuggled shipments of carrots from China worth P4 million.
A team from the Manila International Container Port – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS) intercepted the shipments following information about the entry of misdeclared agricultural products from the mainland.
MICP chief intelligence officer Alvin Enciso said their operation conducted on June 14 will not be possible without the information received by the CIIS.
“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.
Enciso’s team requested the issuance of a Special Stop order, which was then signed immediately by MICP District Collector Romy Allan Rosales, to examine the shipments.
Upon examination of the boxes, Customs agents found carrots and not steamed buns that was declared as content of the shipments.
Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro and CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio commended the immediate action of the MICP.
“This is the kind of work from our agents that we are happy to see happening. If we work like this all the time, we can expect more successful operations against smuggling activities,” Ramiro said.
The two shipments consigned to Silverpop Dry Goods Trading arrived at the port on June 6. The broker is identified as a certain Nemesio Asan Blancaflor Jr.
The importers will be charged with violation 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 (CMTA).
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the numerous seizures of smuggled drugs, unsafe products and other anti-social goods conducted by the bureau is the kind of legacy that President Rodrigo Duterte wants.
“We’ve stopped billions of pesos worth of smuggled products through our institutionalized reforms and relentless anti-smuggling efforts. This is what I hope can continue moving forward,” he stressed, adding that these operations protected businesses that cannot compete with big-time smugglers.