The Bureau of Customs-Intelligence Group (BOC-IG) and the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last September 29 seized an estimated P4.75 million worth of various agricultural products illegally smuggled into the country and sold in at least two warehouses in Tondo, Manila.

Operatives of the BOC-IG and MICP in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) proceeded to Carmen Planas Street and Bilbao Street in Tondo, Manila after identifying the warehouses from where three market stalls are sourcing their imported vegetables.

The operatives brought with them Letters of Authority (LOA) and Mission Orders (MO) issued and signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro said the seizure of the goods stemmed from an operation that originally targeted illegally imported agricultural products in Tondo, Manila.

“When there are operations like these, we inspect further until we find the root cause. These operations have a domino effect on other similar operations,” he explained.

“This is still in line with our mandate to protect the country’s borders against the illegal importation of goods. We’re making good our promise of strengthening border control and we’re intensifying efforts to assure the safety of these products,” Ramiro added.

Operatives posed as buyers of the said goods to prove the presence of the illegal items.

Elements of CIIS-MICP and PCG Task Force Aduana proceeded to Carmen Planas St, Tondo, Manila at 9:30 p.m. of September 29 to simultaneously serve and implement the LOA signed by the Commissioner.

After explaining the LOA to the representatives, the operatives inspected the storage area and found imported red onions, carrots, ginger, garlic, broccoli and red and yellow onions, which amounted to more or less P4 million.

The goods were confiscated and immediately hauled to the BOC premises.

Because the owner of the stall cannot present proof of payment of duties and taxes and the corresponding import permit during the inspection, the team temporarily placed issued seals on the entrance gates and shutters until required documents can be presented.

The representative signed an affidavit of undertaking that they will honor the seals and padlocks placed by the team on the gates and undertake not to remove the goods, seals and padlocks.

In a separate operation at Bilbao St., Tondo, Manila at 11 p.m. of September 29, the team discovered imported sacks of red onions and garlic with an estimated value of P750,000. This came after also the presentation of MO and LOA signed by Guerrero.

Similar to the stalls at Carmen Planas, the stall at Bilbao St. was temporarily sealed until the proper documents are provided.

The inventory of the goods seized from Carmen Planas and Bilbao St. started on September 29 and continued until the next day, September 30.

Guerrero, for his part, strongly denounced such fraudulent activities.

“This is not just about smuggling. This is about economics, too. When we let these agricultural products in our markets, that affects the vendors and consumers. We’re not going to let that happen,” Guerrero said.