Philippines: Smuggled onions seized by customs
According to Biazon the onions were seized by virtue of a Letter of Authority issued on March 18, 2013, and a Warrant and Seizure Order issued on same date after the surveillance operations of the Customs operatives on Navotas cold storage confirmed the presence of the hot onions.
“The operators of the Marcelo Cold Storage could not show import documents or proof of payment for the duties and taxes on the imported onions stored in its cold storage. So we had to seize the illegally imported onions to avoid their getting onto the local market,” Biazon said, adding that, “This is to protect the interest of the local farmers from the ill effects of agricultural product smuggling, particularly onions.”
The local onion growers are partially blaming smuggling for the local onion industry’s stagnant growth.
Biazon stressed that the BOC is closely monitoring the Importations of agricultural products to ensure that only legally imported products like onions are able to get to the local markets. Onion importation is regulated by the Department of Agriculture and is allowed only during lean production months of onions domestically to ensure the absorption of locally produced onions by the local market and to avoid price distortion as well.
“We are very much concerned for the interest of the local farmers. This is the reason why we maintain a zero tolerance policy for agricultural product smuggling. We will seize all illegally imported products, particularly agricultural, no matter who are the people behind it and no matter where these illegally imported agricultural products are.” Biazon said.
For his part Lim expressed confidence on his unit’s anti-smuggling initiatives saying that the enhanced intelligence network of the BOC Intelligence group (IG) will result in more seizures to follow.
Source: Philippines Government
