MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) - Port of Subic, through its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Field Station and the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) Subic District Command, earlier this month seized 23 forty-footer containers of red onions from China. The containers, estimated at P86.250 million in commercial value was consigned to a certain Duar Te Mira, arrived in two batches and were all misdeclared as “chapatti bread” in their manifests.

Upon the arrival of the first 11 containers last July 9, Subic District Collector Maritess Martin issued the pre-lodgment control order as requested by CIIS Subic Field Station and ESS Subic. The alert was ordered to verify a derogatory information received by CIIS on the shipment. Subsequent physical examination of the containers revealed red onions instead of chapatti bread with estimated value of P41.250 million.

“The Modus Operandi of smuggling attempts is usually thru splitting of cargoes. We monitored the manifests of incoming ships, and identified several containers also consigned to Duar Te Mira,” explained CIIS Subic Chief, Verne Enciso.

Customs profiled and alerted the arrival of the second batch of said containers. Like the previously seized batch, the 12 forty-footer containers which arrived on July 13 on board MV SITC Port Klang from China were all declared to contain chapatti bread. CIIS Field Station once again requested for the immediate issuance of Pre-Lodgement Control Order (PLCO), which Collector Martin approved and disseminated to all offices concerned.

Collector Martin, together with CIIS FS Chief Enciso, ESS District Commander Capt. Regino Tuason, representatives from SBITC-Seaport Department, CBBI, and members of the Economic Intelligence Sub-Task Group on Food Security (DTI, DA and NICA and CIDG) oversaw the full physical examination on the containers, which confirmed these too contained Red onions. Part of the rigid examination was to tear down walls and ceilings of the container for possible drug concealment. The examination yielded negative presence of drugs. The estimated value for this batch was at P45 million.

“This is a considerable volume of smuggled agricultural products for our Port. A possible intent could have been to offload here in the North and pass these off as locally grown produce,” said Martin who ordered follow up investigations on case and consignee who were no-shows in claiming their shipment.

BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero lauded the Port of Subic for the successful anti-smuggling operation.

“Especially in this time of pandemic, our District Ports are on high alert for any smuggling attempts particularly on agricultural products that can flood the market and gravely affect the income of our local farmers. We prevented that with the seizure of these shipments,” said Comm Guerrero. The BOC is now weighing options on how best to dispose of the contents of these 23 containers, with the official issuance of  warrants of seizure and detention. (BOC)