P3M worth of smuggled onions seized in Navotas

Some 5,000 bags of red and white onions worth P3 million have been recently seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at a cold storage facility in Navotas City. The onions were presented to the media on Friday by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, who said the items were seized by virtue of a Letter of Authority he issued on March 18. Biazon said the onions were seized by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and Intelligence Division operatives at the Marcelo Cold Storage at North Bay. “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,” Biazon said. “So we had to seize the illegally imported onions to avoid its getting into the local market.” Local farmers have been asking the government to act on the entry of illegally imported agricultural products as it is affecting their livelihood. Local onion raisers are partly blaming smuggling as one of the reasons for the industry’s stagnant growth. Biazon said the BOC is closely monitoring the importations of agricultural products, whether within or outside BOC premises to ensure that only legally imported products like onions are able to get to the local markets. “We are very much concerned on the interest of the local farmers,” he said. “This is the reason why we maintain a zero tolerance policy for agricultural products smuggling.” Biazon also vowed to “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.” The seized onions will eventually be destroyed and disposed in accordance with the law, even as he stressed that the BOC will still pursue legal action to those involved in the alleged smuggling. — KBK, GMA News