Orion, Bataan — The Bureau of Customs Port of Orion on Tuesday reported that a total of 2,025 metric tons of smuggled rice was seized by BoC operatives at the Orion Dockyard in Barangay Elena here.

The BoC said that the smuggled Vietnamese rice has a total worth of P100 million and was intercepted at the Port of Orion which was loaded to a vessel identified as MV SF Omega which was reportedly docked since 21 December 2023.

BoC operatives also arrested 18 people who were unloading the contraband as the agency cited that the shipment is way above the limit the Bureau of Plant Industry allows on agricultural products.

Initial reports said that the ship captain claimed that the rice came from Cebu and the duties and taxes were already paid but upon verification, the documents presented are in conflict with each other — specifically the Bureau of Plant Industry Clearance to Transport Plant Products only allows transportation of 1,700 kilograms of rice versus the 2,025 metric tons actually transported.

Moreover, the proof of payment of customs duties show only 1,850 metric tons and there is no proof shown that the cargo loaded on the MV SF Omega was cleared and released by Bureau of Customs-Cebu.

An examination by officers of the BoC revealed that the rice loaded to the MV SF Omega are different from the rice legally imported at the Port of Cebu.

With Mar Supnad