Mindanaotoday.com | Customs seizes P20M imported onions at a MisOr port
By: Jigger Jerusalem
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Imported red onions, estimated to be worth P20 million, were flagged and seized by the Bureau of Customs and its intelligence branch at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) sub-port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental recently.
According to lawyer Justin Roman Geli, chief of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) in Northern Mindanao, the agricultural product from China were wrongfully declared as bread and pastries.
“Examination of Alerted Shipment consigned to Asterzenmed Inc. with Bill of Lading (BL) nos. SITTARCD1460239 and SITTARCD145254 with container numbers TLLU1127887 and OTPU6548034 declared as Bread and Pastries found positive to contain undeclared onions,” a report from the CIIS stated.
Geli said the two container vans were loaded by about 50,000 kilos of red onions. It arrived at the MCT on Dec. 21, 2022.
“We have already requested for an issuance of warrant seizure and detention of the shipment,” he said in an exclusive interview.
BOC-10 said District Collector Alexandra Lumontad has issued a pre-lodgement control order against the imported cargo following a joint request from the CIIS and the Customs’ Enforcement and Security Service led by Capt. Abdila Maulana Jr.
Lumontad issued a stern warning against unscrupulous individuals attempting to defraud the government of lawful revenues.
“Even during the holiday season, we will not wane our guards against agricultural smuggling, which affects our revenue collection for not only the government coffers but also our local farming industry,” the district collector said.
Warrants of Seizure and Detention were issued against the shipments for misdeclaration in violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Department of Agriculture regulations.
The Port of Cagayan de Oro will continue to be vigilant in protecting its borders against the smuggling of agricultural products as part of the priority program of Customs Commissioner Yogi Felimon Ruiz in line with the eight-point socioeconomic agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Lumontad said. (MT)
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