Customs seize nearly P13M of smuggled frozen chicken from China

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized nearly P13 million worth of smuggled frozen chicken from China that were packed in cartons that were declared as fishballs.

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the bureau found two 40-foot containers from China that were declared containing 5,300 cartons of fishballs. But inspection by authorities showed that there were only 240 cartons of fishballs and the rest were sacks of frozen chicken worth P12.96 million. 

“Hindi natin alam kung ito ay ligtas. Kaya ipapa-test natin sa Bureau of Animal Industry…Kasi kung unfit ito for human consumption, bakit ipinapasok dito? Saan gagamitin ito? Siyempre pagkain ‘yan…Are we being poisoned deliberately by syndicates from China?” said Senate Committee on Agriculture chairperson Francis Pangilinan. 

(We don't know if these are safe. That's why we will have these tested by the Bureau of Animal Industry…I these are unfit for human consumption, why is it being brought in here? Where will these be used? Of course, that's food…Are we being deliberately poisoned by syndicates from China?) 

Pangilinan also said that due to the threat of bird flu, smuggling chicken products from China to the country may compromise the Philippines’ poultry industry. 

“Nakokompromiso ang ating kalusugan, nakokopromiso ang ating livestock. Ito ba ay mayroong bird flu? Dahil since 2019, banned ang pagpasok ng chicken products, chicken parts galing China dahil sa bird flu. Kapag ito ay nakapasok at nalusutan, pwedeng maapektuhan ang ating poultry industry,” said Pangilinan. 

(Our health is being compromised, our livestock is being compromised. Do these have bird flu? Since 2019, the entry of chicken products, chicken parts from China has been banned due to bird flu. If these get in and slip through, our poultry industry could be affected.) 

The BOC-Manila International Container Port district collector immediately issued warrants of seizure and detention to the confiscated containers in line with the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. 

“Identified na po namin yung may-ari at ngayon po ay nagko-conduct na ang aming intelligence group para ma-identify sino pa yung mga kasabwat dito at kung may iba pang kadugtong na shipment ang mga ito,” said BOC assistant commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla. 

(We have already identified the owner, and our intelligence group is now conducting operations to identify who else is involved here and if these shipments have other related connections.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News