The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday spearheaded the inspection of 14 seized 20-foot container vans loaded with misdeclared refined sugar from Vietnam, with an estimated market value of P28.72 million.
Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio led the inspection of the intercepted agricultural shipment, which was flagged for violating customs regulations and other applicable laws, according to a BOC press release.
The containers, which arrived from Dong Nai Province in Vietnam, were falsely declared as “sweet mixed powder” and were intercepted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Port of Subic due to suspicions of misdeclaration and non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
Subsequent laboratory testing conducted with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) revealed that the sucrose content in the samples exceeded 65 percent, confirming that the cargo was refined sugar and not as declared.
This misdeclaration constitutes multiple violations, including SRA Sugar Order No. 7, S. 2003–2004; SRA and BOC Joint Memorandum Order No. 04-2002; and various provisions under Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as well as the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act.
A warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) was issued by Port of Subic District Collector Marlon Fritz Broto on March 28. The goods are now subject to forfeiture proceedings.
“Through stringent inspections and decisive enforcement actions, the Port of Subic continues to fulfill its duty to secure our borders and maintain the integrity of lawful trade. We thank the SRA for its steadfast support in this operation,” Broto stated.
Commissioner Rubio underscored that the seizure supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard food security, ensure fair trade, and crack down on agricultural smuggling.