Customs busts smuggled rice, sugar in Caloocan warehouse —OPS

The Bureau of Customs on Monday seized tons of suspected smuggled rice and sugar in a warehouse in Caloocan City following a surprise inspection, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said.

Reports reaching the OPS said Customs personnel were forced to open the establishment located along Deparo Road after its owners refused to cooperate with the inspection team, which had a Letter of Authority.

Apart from the sacks of rice and sugar,  repacking machines were also seized from the building, which authorities believe were being used to change the packaging of the imported rice and sugar to make them appear as if they were locally sourced.

Over the weekend, Customs agents also inspected four warehouses in Barangay Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan where they discovered at least 60,000 bags of suspected hoarded sugar.

Last week, Malacañang said authorities will continue the inspection to determine whether the current shortage in the supply of sugar was artificial.—LDF, GMA News