DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The joint operations by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday, September 11, led to the seizure of approximately PHP 21 million worth of undocumented imported carrots and onions.
The contraband, which consisted of fresh carrots and yellow onions, was found in five containers aboard the vessel SITC Licheng. The ship docked at the Port of Subic on August 15.
The agricultural products were imported from China by Betron Consumer Goods Trading. Although Betron declared the cargo as frozen fish egg balls, an inspection revealed the true contents: 58 metric tons of carrots and 86 metric tons of yellow onions.
Import regulations stipulate that fresh vegetables and other agricultural food products must have Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC) issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). For processed foods, such as the declared frozen fish egg balls, importers are required to obtain permits from the Food and Drug Administration.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., who led the inspection along with BPI Director Glen Panganiban, Customs Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Yu, and Subic Customs Collector Ricardo U. Morales, condemned the illegal operation.
“These smuggled goods deprive the government of tariff revenue, pose a risk to public health, and undermine the livelihood of our vegetable farmers,” said Laurel. “As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we will be relentless in our efforts to combat these smuggling operations.”
BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban stated that samples from the seized vegetables will be tested for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microbiological contaminants to ensure their suitability for human consumption. Any products failing these tests will be condemned and destroyed.
In a related development, recent tests conducted by the BPI on smuggled oranges from Thailand, seized last month at the Manila International Container Port, revealed significant pesticide residues and microbiological contaminants, exceeding safety standards and regulations.
The BPI emphasized that perishable goods deemed unfit for human consumption or posing health risks will not be sold or donated, under DA and Department of Health regulations.
