BoC flexes muscle after shabu fiasco

P12M smuggled rice seized; charges galore filed.

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) reported yesterday the interception of 50,000 bags of smuggled rice worth about P125 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

The shipment on several 20-foot containers weighed 2,500 tons, BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said, adding the rice originated from Thailand and consigned to Sta. Rosa Farm Products Corp.

The consignee has a pending case before the Department of Justice (DoJ) for the illegal importation of 200 containers of rice without the requisite permits.

The shipment, which arrived in the country on 14 June, was processed by a customs broker identified as Diosdado M. Santiago of Intramuros, Manila.

But customs officials announcing the seizure of the smuggled rice yesterday was greeted with skepticism considering the billions of pesos worth of shabu that slipped past the noses of BoC inspectors.

“BoC has suddenly come up with these news items after the shabu fiasco,” said a veteran reporter, who noted that the rice shipment was seized as early as 27 July upon orders of District Collector Vener Baquiran.

“Seems they want the shabu news to be buried by an avalanche of feel-good stories,” added the journalist.

The cargo was apprehended for violation of Section 117 in relation to NFA Letter Circular AO-2013-04-002, Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act 10845 or the Anti -Agricultural Smuggling Act.

The shipment also ran afoul with NFA Letter Circular AO-2013-04-002 which provides that rice importers are required to secure an NFA permit before the shipment arrives in the country.

“Once the NFA is done with the examination and has issued a report and a recommendation as to the price, we will auction the goods immediately because of its perishable nature,” Commissioner Lapeña said.

“The proceeds of the auction will be held in escrow pending final resolution of seizure and abandonment proceedings,” he added.

The NFA test will also determine if the rice is fit for human consumption.

The apprehension was a result of the directive of the President and the Secretary of Finance to heighten the bureau’s drive against smuggling of rice in the country.

Meanwhile, the BoC has filed charges against the operator of a warehouse in Tondo, Manila where fake cosmetic products and perfumes were seized.

The counterfeit goods were valued at P2, 083,650.52. They are considered health risks without being subjected to tests by the Food and Drug Administration.