By Minerva BC Newman
CEBU CITY – Bureau of Customs (BoC) personnel recently seized 21 container vans at the Port of Cebu after they were found to contain 35,000 bags of smuggled premium rice from China valued over P83.3M.
BoC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, along with several local BoC officials, opened the container vans in front of media yesterday afternoon.
Lapeña bared the illegal shipment, which was discovered by Customs Intelligence and Inspection Service (CIIS) while acting on an intelligence report, were part of a pool of 71 originally declared to contain ceramic tiles as consigned to Seven Myth Marketing in Ermita, Manila and Rainbow Horizons Enterprises in Binondo, Manila.
“We will open all the 71 container vans while I’m here and they will be subject to further investigation and inspection. Because even the tiles look like they were misdeclared as far as the sizes are concerned. Misdeclaration of shipment or property is subject to forfeiture and seizure,” he said.
The rice, valued at R2,380 per bag, will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution.
“It will be donated to Marawi City or where they are needed the most,” Lapeña said. “There will be no auction as to fulfill President Duterte’s directive as far as confiscated smuggled goods are concerned.”
The BoC commissioner went on to warn scrupulous individuals aiming to make the Port of Cebu a haven for illegally shipped goods: “We are intensifying our campaign against smuggling and corruption at the bureau and we are gaining grounds.”
“You cannot continue to deprive the government with the needed revenues from taxes and duties at the port,” he added.