THE Bureau of Customs seized some P15.4 million worth illegally imported rice from Thailand at the Port of San Fernando, La Union.
The illegal importation was discovered after the Importer Progressive Grains and Milling Corp. released more than the declared quantity of imported rice it filed at the BoC.
“The company paid P46,064,232 worth of duties and other charges for the imported rice but more than 144,000 sacks have been released from the port, more than the 600 metric tons it declared,” acting Chief Port Operations Officer Jose Guillermo said.
He said that upon verification, it was found that 603.15 MT rice were released outside the declared quantity, and that there is no import permit for the excess shipment.
The BoC has seized 12,000 sacks and has transferred them to the National Food Authority warehouse in San Juan, La Union for safekeeping pending investigation.