A SERIES of inspections of six warehouses across Metro Manila by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, yielded P150 million worth of agricultural products, including frozen meat and fresh fruits from China.

The operations were led by agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP), Enforcement and Security Service-MICP (ESS-MICP), ESS-Quick Reaction Team (ESS-QRT), who proceeded to the six cold storage facilities after the issuance of Letters of Authority (LOAs) by Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio.

“Right now, our team is a well-oiled machine running after these smuggling groups. The operations yesterday showed how our officers work day and night to make sure these products will not make it to our local markets,” the commissioner said.

“Law enforcement and border control are challenging work. A country’s borders, in particular, are dynamic environments. We hope we are sending a clear message to these groups that we will never tire,” Rubio added.

After the representatives of the warehouses acknowledged the LOA, the team found imported agricultural products—frozen beef, pork, chicken, round scad, squid, and fish products—and fresh fruits, such as apples, oranges, grapes, and kiwi.

These have an estimated value of P150 million.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said they received the information and acted on it immediately, thanking the commissioner for his swift issuance of the LOAs needed to inspect the facilities.

“While we want to thank the good commissioner for relentlessly reminding us of the work that lies ahead, I also want to commend our tireless BOC officers who face these challenges every day. They are armed with extensive training, sound judgment, and more than anything else, a steadfast commitment to our mandate,” he added.

Uy shared that he and Rubio plan to personally visit the facilities where the suspected smuggled products were found.

The six warehouses subjected to the inspections are located in Caloocan, Manila, and Navotas.

However, one of the Navotas warehouses was found to be empty but was being constructed purposely as cold storage.

The BOC composite team proceeded to temporarily padlock and seal the warehouses, including the empty storage facility.

The inventory of the goods will be conducted by the assigned Customs examiner and would be witnessed by agents from the CIIS and ESS-QRT.

The owners of the goods would be asked to present importation documents or proof of payment by the Customs authorities.

If found without proper documents, the corresponding seizure and forfeiture proceedings will be conducted against the subject shipments for violation of Sec. 1400 (misdeclaration in goods declaration) in relation to Sec. 1113 (property subject to seizure and forfeiture) of Republic Act No. 10863 known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).