THE Bureau of Customs (BOC), with the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on Thursday, October 7, at around 6:50 p.m. led the operations that seized an estimated P50 million worth of red onions, frozen goods, and health and cosmetic products.

Upon initial inspection, around 2,000 sacks of imported red onions, boxes of frozen seafood, and warehouses of health and cosmetic products were discovered in a warehouse owned by Elite Globus Primeholdings Corp. located at Bahay Pare Road, Sitio 4, Brgy. Bahay Pare, Meycauayan, Bulacan.

The red onions were hidden inside concrete fish tanks and covered with styrofoams to conceal and hide the said agricultural products.

The frozen seafoods, on the other hand, were contained in several storage boxes inside the small cold storages.

Aside from the food products, the operatives also found warehouses with cosmetic products, medicines, vitamins, and supplements without the required FDA permits. These products are supposedly being sold online.

There were also assorted IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) infringing goods, housewares, plastic wares, and other household goods.

The operatives from Task Force Aduana presented to the representative of the warehouse a Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.

They also made sure to properly coordinate with local authorities before proceeding to the target area.

Barangay officials, led by the barangay captain, witnessed the operations.

“We’ve been intensifying our efforts against the illegal importation of agricultural products because this has a direct impact on our farmers and fishermen. Without a doubt, this is something that the bureau is focused on now that the pandemic is pushing our fellowmen into poverty,” Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro said.

The items that violated the IPR and FDA regulations were ipso facto forfeited and are immediately due for condemnation while agricultural and household products will be held for 15 days until the warehouse owner can present proof of payment of duties and taxes under Sec. 224 of Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Upon failure of the owner to present importation documents for the imported agricultural and household goods after 15 days, the products will be subjected to seizure and forfeiture under Section 1113 for violation of Sections 117 and 118 of the CMTA.

The Customs examiner began the inventory of the products last Friday, October 8, 2021.

The examinations was witnessed by CIIS, Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and PCG personnel.

Guerrero hailed this latest operation, which already followed several ones in the past weeks, for fulfilling the anti-smuggling efforts of the bureau.

“Smuggling of agricultural products is very personal to a lot of Filipinos who rely on the local production of these items to put food on their tables. For us here, it has also become a mission to ensure that our borders are safe and secure especially during these times,” the commissioner said.

“Now more than ever, there is no room for us to fail at stopping the illegal entry of goods in our markets,” Guerrero added.