AN examination by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of three containers declared to have various clothing and home products from China yielded P17 worth of smuggled yellow onions consigned to SB Express Logistics and Business Solution Inc.

The sacks of onions were found in between sacks of ukay-ukay (used clothings) worth an estimated P2 million.

The 100 percent examination of the first container was done on December 23, 2022 after an alert order (AO) was issued the day before, on December 22, 2022.

Two other containers suspected to include misdeclared agricultural products were also subjected to a thorough physical examination on December 23, 2022.

Amid the bureau’s intensified campaign against the smuggling of agricultural products, particularly onions, Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz expressed his gratitude to and admiration of the commitment of the team behind each operation.

“The bureau has, so far, examined, detained, and seized hundreds of millions worth of shipments that contain agricultural products this month alone. If they think they can use the ukay-ukay to hide the onions, they are mistaken,” he said.

“We swore to protect the country’s borders from this kind of illegal activities. But much more than that, we are also trying to protect our people, many of whom are deeply affected—and have been crying out—against the prices of the most basic of our food products,” Ruiz added.

The commissioner also lamented that many small business owners pay the right fees to bring ukay-ukay or used clothing products into the country legally, while unscrupulous groups bring in millions worth of them without going through the proper process.

The shipment was originally declared to contain plastic buckets, ladies’ blouse, ladies’ slippers, dish plates, and cat litter.

But the examination of the first container yielded misdeclared sacks of yellow onions hidden in between sacks of ukay-ukay (used clothings).

The said examination was witnessed by the assigned Customs examiner, COO III Jordan G. Apurillo, and witnessed by DA Representative Commander Leopoldo Apellanes, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Representative Mr. Fernando Masbate, Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI) Representative Renz Jon S. Temeña, and CIIS officials.

Aside from the containers included under this AO, seven other containers consigned to SB Express Logistics and Business Solution Inc. are currently on hold by the bureau for suspicion of undeclared and misdeclared onions.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy shared that the success of the operation became possible because of the coordination between BOC and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We processed the derogatory information received by the DA and shared with us. Based on these initial reports and investigation, we issued the AO shortly before Christmas. I thank all our hardworking team members for ensuring that we can complete the examination of the containers before the holidays kick in,” he said.

The bureau’s campaign against agricultural smuggling has reached new heights following the direction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is also the country’s DA chief, to drive the country toward food security and improved agricultural conditions.