PASG seizes P150M worth of smuggled poultry products in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines - Government anti-smuggling agents on Wednesday seized P150 million worth of suspected smuggled poultry products and agricultural livestock during a raid in Navotas City. GMA’s Flash Report said that operatives from the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) discovered the products contained inside carton boxes and 38 open freezers that were all stored inside a food warehouse at 525 M. Naval St. in Bangkulasi village in Navotas City. PASG chief Antonio Villar Jr said they discovered smuggled Angus beef, pork, fowl meat like Peking duck and rice duck as well as sea food products like tuna, shrimp, squid, and salmon. Villar stressed that the importation and sale of Peking ducks have long been banned in the Philippines, following the bird flu outbreak two years ago. The official added that the owner’s operation was considered “plain and simple smuggling," saying the company does not have the necessary importation documents for the shipments that were reportedly smuggled from China. "Ang Peking ducks matagal nang banned item, mga imported ito bawal sa China, banned ito dalawang taon na. Wala silang papeles na maipakita eh (Peking ducks had been banned for two years since the bird flu alert was up. The caretakers here could not show documents for the items)," Villar said. GMA News tried reaching officials from the food storage company but they have yet to speak about the incident. Also discovered in the warehouse were boxes containing agricultural livestock like onions, garlic, and broccoli. The PASG operatives have yet to verify claims that the agricultural livestock were locally grown and not illegally imported. A radio dzBB report said anti-smuggling agents had a hard time prying open one of the cold storage vans, raising their suspicion that the container van used computerized locks. "Ang isang cold storage dito di namin mabuksan kasi computerized ang lock suspetsa namin (At least one of the cold storage vans here cannot be opened because it uses a computerized lock)," said Villar, adding they may have to secure a search warrant first before they could forcibly open the other containers. The PASG chief was also quoted as saying the products would undergo laboratory testing at the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to determine if they are contaminated with virus. Villar said that without undergoing proper importation processes, it would be uncertain if the Peking ducks, which are believed to be delivered in local Chinese restaurants in Manila, contained the avian flu virus. "Wala ang may-ari rito, di naman nagpakita (The owners were not here when we entered the compound)," Villar said. Still, charges are already being prepared against a certain William Lim and Andrew Co, who were said to be the administrators of the said food storage facility. The television report said that one Daniel Ong, who identified himself as an adminstrator of the cold storage facilty, had earlier explained to the PASG that the products were not theirs as their company merely had the freezers leased. The said lessees could not be immediately reached for comment as of this posting. For his part, Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones of the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, who joined in the raid, was also quoted in the radio report as advising President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to strongly consider relieving Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales, in light of the series of raids involving smuggled poultry products. Two weeks ago, anti-smuggling operatives also discovered P200 million worth of seafood and poultry products being stored in another warehouse in Navotas City. - GMANews.TV