MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) vowed to intensify this year its campaign against smuggling, particularly the illegal importation of agricultural products.
In a Laging Handa briefing Wednesday, BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. reported that nearly PHP2 billion worth of agricultural products were seized from different ports in 2022.
“It’s already reached – just for onions alone, have reached more than PHP500 to PHP600 million. When it comes to agricultural products, it has reached more than PHP1.9 billion in the year 2022. The Bureau of Customs will continue to watch closely,” he added.
The latest seizure of smuggled agricultural products by Customs authorities was made on Dec. 23, which yielded PHP17 million worth of onions loaded inside a shipment of used clothing and home products worth PHP14 million from China.
Dela Torre noted they will continue to implement initiatives that were implemented last year with the help of other government agencies and stakeholders.
“It is clear to the Bureau of Customs that the year 2022 has been progressive and challenging. That’s why this 2023, we will intensify our anti-smuggling effort so that we can combat smuggling even more,” he added.
Source: Philippines News Agency