The Department of Agriculture (DA) Inspectorate and Enforcement Office (I&E) alerted the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of three container vans of suspicious contents, in line with the anti-smuggling campaign of the national government.
The BOC, in cooperation with the DA I&E, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI) inspected the said shipments at the Port of Subic.
During the joint intelligence work of BOC and DA representatives, the BOC confiscated some P20 million worth of agricultural produce.
Seized shipments include a container load of frozen carrots, and red and white onions that were misdeclared as frozen lobster balls and crab sticks.
After a thorough examination and inventory, the Port of Subic announced it will issue warrants of seizure and detention (WSD) against the consignees of the confiscated produce.
The DA said it is preparing charges against the people responsible for violating the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.