BoC endorses criminal complaints under Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has endorsed six draft criminal complaints against three consignees to the Department of Finance for the illegal importation of agricultural products valued at more than P90 million.

The complaints involve violations of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, or Republic Act 12022. The cases originated from a series of seizure operations in June 2025, following a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify border security against agricultural smuggling.

According to the bureau, the seized shipments included white onions and carrots arriving mid-June 2025 with an estimated value of P27.1 million.

A second consignee was linked to a P43.8-million shipment of frozen mackerel, while a third shipment of fresh carrots and frozen mackerel was valued at P19.4 million.

The total value of the contraband was calculated based on the Department of Agriculture’s daily price index.

Under the requirements of the new anti-sabotage law, the Customs bureau must transmit draft complaints to the Department of Finance for review and approval before they are officially filed with the Department of Justice.

In addition to the criminal complaints, the bureau has initiated administrative actions against its own personnel. The investigation aims to determine any potential administrative liability or negligence among staff connected to the shipments.

The Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, signed into law in late 2024, classifies the smuggling of essential food items as a “heinous crime” when it reaches a certain scale, carrying stiffer penalties than previous smuggling laws.