The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized some 200 container vans loaded with Thailand white rice shipped on different dates at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) estimated to be worth about P250 million.
The BOC reported on Thursday that it has blocked the entry of the contraband loaded into some 200 containers for lack of import permit from the National Food Authority (NFA).
The BOC reported that a firm named Sta. Rosa Farm Products Corp. initially filed an import entry for the containers of Thailand white rice, which arrived at the MICP on various dates. The shipments were, however, seized after a thorough check.
Customs Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña confirmed that the shipments lack import permit from the NFA. “The duties and taxes of the 150 containers were assessed at P31.428 million. However, because of the lack of permit and the failure of the consignee to pay the duties and taxes within 15 days from the date of final assessment, the shipment is subject to seizure,” the Customs chief said.
Under NFA Letter Circular AO-2013-04-002, importers of rice are required to secure NFA permit prior to arrival in the country. The absence of a permit is a sufficient ground for the seizure of the shipments and forfeiture by Customs and the NFA.
District Collector Vener S. Baquiran issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) on Wednesday to effect enforce the seizure of the rice shipments.
The BOC is expected to file charges for violation of Section 1113 under the Customs and Modernization and Tariff Act in relation to the NFA circular letter and under Republic Act 10845, which penalizes agricultural smugglers with life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural products and the aggregate amount of the taxes avoided.
“Since my assumption, this is the biggest rice smuggling intercepted by the Bureau of Customs,” Lapeña said.
Lapeña, likewise, ordered all Customs district collectors to subject all agricultural products under alert orders to prevent similar incidents of agricultural smuggling.
The seized Thailand white rice will be up for auction within five to 10 days with the assistance of the NFA.
In March this year, the BOC reported that frozen products, used and new clothes, and agricultural products like onions and garlic are just some of the commodities commonly smuggled into the country.
Based on 2017 data the BusinessMirror obtained from the BOC Intelligence Group (BOC-IG), the top commodities being smuggled into the country are agricultural products with 36 shipments seized; general merchandise came in second with eight shipments seized; and used and new clothes at seven shipments seized.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza