DA, BOC intercept 25 MT of smuggled red onions in Misamis Oriental

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have intercepted 25 metric tons (MT) of illegally imported red onions from China at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental.

In a news release on Tuesday, the DA said the seized cargo arrived on May 26 and was declared to contain various frozen goods such as egg noodles, croissant dough, pizza dough, buns, and spring rolls.

The shipment’s release was withheld for “further inspection” following a request from the BPI-Plant Quarantine Service in Cagayan de Oro to the BOC, citing “derogatory information.”

The DA said that a physical examination conducted on June 11 revealed that the shipment contained fresh red onions, which were not listed on the ship’s manifest.

The Agriculture Department said the estimated customs value of the smuggled onions is around P2 million.

Following the discovery, the DA said the BOC had recommended the seizure of the shipment.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA had not issued any sanitary and phytosanitary import permits for red onion shipments from China. 

Tiu Laurel said the government would pursue legal action under the newly enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which imposes heavier penalties for agricultural smuggling, including substantial fines and extended prison terms. — VBL, GMA Integrated News